Bail Reform Rollback In Effect
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They made several crimes once again eligible for bail, including second-degree burglary, promoting child pornography and vehicular manslaughter.
Federal Prosecutors Discussed ‘Burying’ Evidence In Troubled New York Case
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The government acknowledged problems with sharing evidence with the defense, but prosecutors argue the missteps were inadvertent, not malicious. A judge is assessing the matter.
NYPD Suspends Officer Over Using Apparent Chokehold During Arrest
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Video shows an officer using an apparent chokehold on a man who had been shouting invective at passersby and police. Chokeholds have been banned in New York City since 1993.
Crime and Justice
PA House Committee Advances Two Police Reform Bills
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Action comes one week after Black Caucus members led protest on House floor
Three More Police Reforms Signed Into Law By Cuomo
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“It’s about people wanting to change. Well, New York will be the place that actually makes the change and we pass laws that have done just that.”
New York Governor: Now Is The Time For ‘Fundamental Redefinition’ Of Policing
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For years, the governor says, Democrats in the state didn’t have the political or popular support to enact reforms. Now, lawmakers have passed sweeping police accountability and transparency measures.
App NEWS
New York Lawmakers Push Police Reform Bills Following George Floyd Killing
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“We want police accountability, we want police reform. We want to make sure that if someone makes a 911 call and a false claim, this is potentially a hate crime.”
App NEWS
VIDEO: Two Buffalo Officers Suspended After Violently Shoving Elderly Man
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a tweet, called the incident “wholly unjustified and utterly disgraceful.”
App NEWS
Binghamton Protesters: Reduce Arrest Rates, Increase Social Services
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“It takes resources away from the things that we actually need in our community, that make our community thrive.”
Crime and Justice
Cuomo Tells DAs to Hold Looters On Bail, DAs Say No
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“If the police were arresting looters, and they were then being arrested and returned to the street the next day again, that would be nonsensical.”
Peaceful Daytime Protest Turns Violent At Night, 2 Police Officers Injured In Buffalo
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Both officers, one a Buffalo Police officer and the other a New York State trooper, are currently in stable condition.
App NEWS
Can You Be Cited Just For Going On A Drive?
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Pennsylvania DA says he’s withdrawing citation against woman who allegedly violated stay-at-home order
New York State Prisons: 105 employees, 14 Inmates Positive For COVID-19
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“Tell them I am doing well, taking it day by day. Spending most of the days sleeping. Symptoms seem to come and go in waves.”
Crime and Justice
PA Police Can Now Shut Down ‘Non-Life-Sustaining’ Businesses, But They’d Rather Not
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“Nobody is looking to get anybody unnecessarily involved in the legal system.”
App NEWS
Advocates Fear More Time At Home Could Lead To An Increase In Domestic Violence
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“Now people are trapped in their homes, sometimes unsafe, non respectful loving homes.”
Prisoners Make Hand Sanitizer For New York State; Inmate Advocates Compare It To Slavery
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“It is wrong for New York State to have prisoners do those types of labor, because they’re getting paid slave wages.”
Ronan Farrow Lauds #MeToo After Verdict: ‘There Are Harvey Weinsteins Everywhere’
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The New Yorker journalist, who led the reporting on the movie producer’s decades of alleged sexual assault, hailed the bravery of the women who spoke up. Still, he said, “there’s a long way to go.”
App NEWS
PA State Senator Admits Guilt In Child Porn Possession Case
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An account traced to him had uploaded an image showing a sexual act between a female minor and adult male. The office said police found two other images on Folmer’s cell phone.
App NEWS
Momentum Grows For Revisions To New York’s Bail Reform Laws
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The Leader of the New York State Senate says it’s likely that changes will soon be made to the state’s new bail reform laws, which end most forms of cash bail for non violent offenses.
App NEWS
ICE Chief Slams New York’s Green Light Law
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“As a 25-year law enforcement professional, it is unfathomable that information which could be used to prevent crime or a potential terrorist attack, is purposely being withheld.”
Crime and Justice
How To Lower Prison Costs? PA Secretary Advises Medical Parole
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Pennsylvania sentences a lot of people to life without the possibility of parole. Research has shown their odds of reoffending are low after years of incarceration.
App NEWS
New York Man Accused Of Making Death Threats Against Senator Schumer and Congressman Schiff
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“The rights secured in our Constitution carry with them certain responsibilities. When it comes to the First Amendment, that responsibility includes the obligation not to threaten to kill others.”
App NEWS
Now Exonerated, Yusef Salaam Changes Minds At Cornell About Incarceration, Justice
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“It did change how I look at people because they’re not, like, all criminals. There are more of, like, people who maybe, like, just had bad luck.”
Crime and Justice
Disgraced Former Minority Leader Won’t Seek Reelection To New York Assembly
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Brian Kolb stepped down from his leadership post after being arrested for drunk driving on New Year’s Eve.
Crime and Justice
New York Senate Proposal To Rollback Bail Reform Sparks Anger
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“Sometimes you’ve got to be profane to be profound.”
Wall Street Financier Seeks Early Release Because He Has ‘Less Than 18 Months’ To Live
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A lawyer says Madoff, who is serving a 150-year sentence, suffers from terminal kidney failure. The Federal Bureau of Prisons denied a similar request for release last year.
Here’s What We’ve Learned So Far At New York Trial Of Harvey Weinstein
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New York prosecutors have said their piece; now it’s time for Weinstein’s legal team to take the stage. But before his rape trial moves on, here’s a glimpse of the four biggest courtroom moments so far.
Crime and Justice
Bail Reform Debate Sparks Accusations Of Racism On Social Media
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“They don’t give a damn about our community. What they want is to continue to put black and brown folk and poor white folk (in jail).”
Crime and Justice
GOP Lawmakers Intensify Pushback Against New York’s Bail Reform Laws
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“This is the number one issue, it’s not even close. This is what people are talking about.”
Prosecutor Says Proposed Elder Parole Bill “Ain’t Flying” For New York’s Violent Offenders
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The county prosecutor is willing to consider the idea for offenders who committed crimes at a young age and have proven their rehabilitation while behind bars.
The New York Trial Of Harvey Weinstein: A Brief Timeline Of How We Got Here
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For years, dark rumors swirled around the movie producer. So how did those whispered allegations result in a full-fledged criminal trial? Here’s an abridged history.
App NEWS
PA State House May Make It Easier To Terminate Rapists’ Parental Rights
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A bill that would change the process made it through a House committee unanimously, and now goes to the full chamber for a vote.
App NEWS
As Criticism Grows In New York, Supporters Of Bail Reform Describe Fight As A Civil Rights Struggle
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Bail reform has become a major flashpoint, with Republicans and some Democrats saying the law has meant some repeat offenders and potentially violent suspects being released too quickly.
Crime and Justice
Lt. Governor On Bail Reforms: ‘There Is A Lot Of Fear-Mongering Going On’
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“There is a lot of people exaggerating the situation. The vast majority of people, they are non-violent crimes, that’s the premise, they are misdemeanors.”
App NEWS
Senate Dems Face GOP Pressure To Revise New York’s Bail Reform Laws
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“They are tone-deaf. They are not listening to people back in their districts.”
Crime and Justice
PA House Moves To Keep People Convicted Of Gun Crimes In Jail Longer
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The chamber narrowly passed a measure that would require judges to issue consecutive sentences for multiple crimes involving guns.
Crime and Justice
Friends Want Leniency, But Chris Collins’ Ex-Constituents Want An Example Made
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The approximately 170 letters filed in U.S. District Court this week paint very different pictures of disgraced former Congressman Chis Collins.
Crime and Justice
Assemblyman Pleads Not Guilty At Court Appearance On DWI Charge
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Assemblyman Brian Kolb was in court in the town of Victor on Thursday where he pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of DWI.
Video Outside New York Jail Cell During Jeffrey Epstein’s First Suicide Attempt ‘No Longer Exists’
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After first reporting that the video had been preserved, prosecutors now say that further investigation shows officials “inadvertently preserved video from the wrong tier” within the Manhattan prison.
Featured in Category
PA Reforms Childhood Sex Abuse Laws In Response To Clergy Scandal
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After a grand jury implicated more than 300 priests in a statewide sex scandal, nearly every case was too old to be prosecuted. Legislators say that problem inspired these new laws.
App NEWS
New York Democrats Show Cracks Over Support For Criminal Justice Reforms
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“There’s no doubt this is still a work in progress, and there are other changes that have to be made.”
Crime and Justice
New York Attorney General Looks For Some Changes To New Bail Reform Laws
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Some state officials are already asking for revisions to a law eliminating cash bail for people charged with misdemeanors and non-violent felonies.
Crime and Justice
Kolb Steps Down As Assembly Minority Leader
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Deputies say Kolb was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated. There were no injuries, and Sheriff Kevin Henderson said there was minor damage to the vehicle.
Crime and Justice
District Attorney Assigned As Special Prosecutor In Minority Leader’s DWI Case
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Kolb was charged on New Year’s Eve when his state-owned SUV got stuck in a ditch near his home in the town of Victor.
New Lawsuits Against Buffalo Diocese Include First-Time Accusation, Claims Of Cover-Up
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One identifies a local priest as an alleged abuser for the first time, while the other accuses a former auxiliary bishop of providing “hush money” in a 1980s case.
App NEWS
Minority Leader For New York General Assembly Arrested For DWI
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Deputies said Brian Kolb was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated. There were no injuries and Sheriff Kevin Henderson said there was minor damage to the vehicle.
Crime and Justice
New Laws In New York In 2020
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Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who shepherded the criminal justice reforms through his chamber, said the new laws are meant to change a “racist and classist system.”
Crime and Justice
PA Judge Admonished For Abusing Power At Traffic Stop
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The letter from a statewide board could be used against Judge Dennis Reinaker in future misconduct cases.
Crime and Justice
New York Ends Most Cash Bail In 2020
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New York will end cash bail for everyone accused of a nonviolent crime and adopt new rules in the pretrial discovery process.
App NEWS
Upstate Professor Collects Thousands Of Holiday Cards For Kids Impacted By Mass Shootings
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“I’m writing you to wish you a very happy holidays. Remember there will always be people who care about and support you. The world is a better place with you in it.”
Crime and Justice
Brindisi Will Vote For Impeachment, Katko Opposed
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Congressmen in two of New York’s swing districts will vote along party lines in this week’s impeachment vote in Washington.
App NEWS
Former Congressman, Co-Defendants Settle With The Securities And Exchange Commission
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Former congressman Chris Collins, his son Cameron, and Stephen Zarsky pleaded guilty to criminal insider trading charges in October.
Crime and Justice
PA House Adds Mandatory Minimums To High-Profile Justice Reform Bills
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Many Democrats and some Republicans say mandatory minimum sentences are ineffective and biased against black people. The GOP committee chair says he ‘doesn’t see color.’
App NEWS
Despite Concerns From Counties, New York Lawmakers Won’t Revise Criminal Justice Reforms
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The leader of the New York state Senate said lawmakers will not revise criminal justice reforms that will result in an end to most forms of cash bail beginning in January.
Crime and Justice
His Life Sentence Commuted, PA Prisoner Now Faces Theft Charges Dating Back To 1992
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After 25 years in prison, David Sheppard received clemency for a second-degree murder charge. But he may have to go back to prison for allegedly stealing jeans in 1992.
Apostolic Administrator Tells Catholic Weekly Buffalo Bankruptcy A “Likelihood”
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“I think that has to be faced, and sooner rather than later. I would probably be the one to make that ultimate call, but I would want to make sure there wasn’t any other reasonable option.
App NEWS
Supporters Of New York’s Bail, Discovery Law Reforms Rebut Backlash
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Beginning in January, New York ends cash bail for all nonviolent crimes and prosecutors reveal all the evidence they have to suspects within 15 days.
Crime and Justice
PA State Representative Charged With Stealing Over $500,000 From Nonprofit
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Democrat Movita Johnson-Harrell says she plans to resign. She won her seat in a special election nine months ago, replacing a representative charged with bribery.
App NEWS
Police, Prosecutors Also Concerned Over Criminal Justice Reforms In New York
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“We are forced to stand here, after the fact, calling to the attention of the public, the legislature, and the governor, the serious flaws in these new laws.”
Crime and Justice
After Years Of Internal Fights, PA Legislature Overhauls Statute Of Limitations
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People abused as children will be able to file criminal suits against their abusers no matter how much time has passed.
App NEWS
PA House Moves To Protect Prison Guards By Cracking Down On Inmates
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Among other things, the measures would impose longer sentences for assaulting guards, and punish inmates for a broader range of crimes.
App NEWS
Binghamton Mayor Leads Chorus Of Concerns Over 2020 Criminal Justice Reforms
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“We do not currently have the staffing to meet the timeline that’s in place right now,” Binghamton Mayor Rich David said.
Crime and Justice
PA Will Take Death Row Inmates Out Of Indefinite Solitary Confinement
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They’ll now get at least 42½ hours per week out of their cell, and will be allowed to eat and attend religious services with other inmates.
Opioid Addiction In Jails: A New York Prison Doctor’s Perspective
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Rikers Island doctor says drug treatment in U.S. jails and prisons is often shaped by societal prejudice, not science.
Crime and Justice
Prosecutors Say They Need More Money To Enact Changes To New York’s Criminal Justice Law
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“Every DA in the state is going to try. What you’ll see is that there are going to be difficulties.”
App NEWS
Tompkins DA Explains How State Criminal Justice Reforms Will Cost The County
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Several other counties have criticized these reforms as another unfunded mandate.
Crime and Justice
Pushback From Police, Republicans To New York’s Bail Reform Laws
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Sweeping reforms that will end cash bail for all misdemeanor and nonviolent felony charges in New York state take effect in January. But some law enforcement groups are objecting.
China-New York Jail Suspects In A Fentanyl Trafficking Case
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The traffickers were caught with 11.9 kilograms of fentanyl — enough to kill nearly 6 million people, by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s standard.
New York Appeals Court Rules Trump Must Turn Over Tax Records
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Lawyers for President Trump say they plan to appeal to the Supreme Court, potentially setting up an election-year decision about disclosing the president’s finances.
App NEWS
In Unprecedented Move, PA Judge Blocks Marsy’s Law Ballots From Being Counted—For Now
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The ACLU and other groups had argued the victims’ rights constitutional amendment is too broad and could compromise the rights of the accused. The judge agreed.
Jeffrey Epstein Case: Former New York Medical Examiner Suggests Doubt On Suicide Finding
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A New York pathologist who observed the autopsy says Epstein’s neck fractures are “more indicative” of homicidal strangulation than suicide. The current medical examiner stands by her conclusion.
Crime and Justice
Marsy’s Law Explained
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What Pennsylvania voters need to know about the victims’ rights amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot
Crime and Justice
After Hot Mic Comment, Tensions Between PA Prisons Chief And Prison Staff Flare
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Union leaders interpreted Corrections Secretary John Wetzel’s quiet aside at a prison closure hearing as dismissive.
App NEWS
Ithaca Pacifist, Six Others Convicted On Charges Stemming From Anti-War Protest
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“We have choices about what we consent to and what we don’t consent to. That’s a nonviolent practice of withdrawing consent.”
Crime and Justice
Is Marsy’s Law Constitutional? A PA Judge Will Decide Soon.
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Opponents of the victims’ rights amendment say it’s too broad and would cause “immediate and irreparable harm” to the accused. Marsy’s Law backers firmly disagree.
ACLU
ACLU Files Last-Minute Suit In PA Against Marsy’s Law Amendment
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Marsy’s Law would insert a bill of rights for crime victims in Pennsylvania’s constitution. The ACLU thinks it’s too sweeping and would need to be broken into parts.
Addiction
ACLU Says A Lebanon County Medical Marijuana Policy Violates PA Law
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Lebanon isn’t not the only county that does this. The Pennsylvania ALCU says it has heard at least seven others have similar policies. The group is hoping its suit has statewide implications.
Crime and Justice
New Law Extends New York’s Statute Of Limitations For Sex Crimes
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“There has been an ongoing and pervasive culture of sexual harassment and abuse in our society, and it is made worse by the fact that victims of second- and third-degree rape only have five years to bring a legal claim against their attacker,”
As Drugmakers Face Opioid Lawsuits, Some Ask: Why Not Criminal Charges Too?
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“The Sackler family does not belong in bankruptcy court,” Rep. Max Rose said of Purdue Pharma’s owners. “They belong in handcuffs.” He and others want charges for drug companies linked to the crisis.
App NEWS
PA Lawmakers Reel After Folmer’s Ouster
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The top Republican, arrested on child pornography charges, was heavily involved in efforts to overhaul redistricting and elections laws.
PA State Senator Resigns After Arrest On Child Porn Charges
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Mike Folmer, 63, was arrested at his home on Tuesday. According to court documents, he told police that he “had been dealing with some personal problems.”
Crime and Justice
State Senator Arrested In PA On Child Pornography Charges
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The state attorney general says the high-ranking Republican is not “above the law.”
Fugitive Couple From New York State Caught After Weeks On The Run
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The U.S. Marshals Service says Blane Barksdale, 56, and wife Susan, 59, “overpowered and kidnapped” three people, including two security guards, on Aug. 26 during extradition from New York to Arizona.
Buffalo Bishop Restates He’s Staying, While Critic Says Call To Resign Is “Major Move”
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“The fact that his own kind of kitchen cabinet of support, a kitchen cabinet of reforms, has turned on him and said you must leave, this could be the tipping point.”
Crime and Justice
Clergy Abuse Victims Call For Forgiveness
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The two men want to propose an alternative to the anger and bitterness the scandal has wrought.
Crime and Justice
Postal Feature Might Protect Mail From ‘Porch Pirates’
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For people concerned about “porch pirates” walking off with their packages, the U.S. Postal Service offers a free service to help customers keep track of their mail.
Crime and Justice
New Tool Allows School Districts To Catch Drivers Who Illegally Pass Buses
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School districts in New York have a new tool to catch drivers who pass school buses that are stopped to drop off or pick up kids.
New York City Fires Officer Who Used Banned Chokehold Before Eric Garner’s Death
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The decision backs the recommendation of an NYPD administrative judge earlier this month that Pantaleo should be fired for his role in Garner’s death in 2014.
App NEWS
Cuomo Wants Life In Prison For Domestic Mass Shooters
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“The penalty should be the same as it is for other terrorism crimes — up to life without parole — because these are hate crimes on steroids.”
App NEWS
Accuser To Priest: ‘You’re A Murderer Of Souls’
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‘The people in Geneva that you come back and visit, do they know the kind of person you really are?’ And for the first time there was silence. Do you know you’re a murderer of souls?’ And there was silence and he dropped the phone, then he hung up.”
‘Serious Irregularities’ At New York Jail Where Epstein Died, Attorney General Says
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Attorney General William Barr says he was appalled by the death of Jeffrey Epstein at a New York City jail over the weekend. He blamed the correctional center for failing to”adequately secure” him.
Crime and Justice
Congressman Collins: “I Intend To Go To Trial To Clear My Name”
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A key issue in this criminal case is the U.S. Constitution’s “speech and debates” clause. That says a member of Congress can’t be challenged for something he says in Congress.
Crime and Justice
Brindisi Calls For Probe After Graphic Photos Of Utica Murder Stayed On Social Media
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The alleged killer of Bianca Devins posted images of her death on social media that remained visible on platforms like Instagram for more than a week.
Government
New York Governor Responds To Trump Speech On Mass Killings
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Governor Cuomo called Trump’s speech one of the “great acts of hypocrisy,” saying the president has “made racism his stock and trade” through his prior remarks and tweets.
App NEWS
PA School Safety Tip-Line Used More To Report Bullying, Suicidal Thoughts, Than Violent Threats
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A Pennsylvania tip system created to improve school safety fielded some tips about school violence, but received far more inquiries about student mental health, according to new data.
Crime and Justice
Corrections Cautions Against ‘Knee Jerk’ Reaction After PA Parolee Murders
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The alleged perpetrators were onetime Pennsylvania state inmates out on parole. And in a commonwealth that has been working systematically to get people out of prison, that prompted concern.
App NEWS
Finger Lakes Man Murdered In California Mass Shooting
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“This latest episode of senseless gun violence resulted in the loss of one of our recent graduates—graduates in whom we place so much hope because of their potential to create a brighter tomorrow.”
Feds Have Arrested Suspected ‘Pink Lady Bandit’ Behind PA Bank Robbery
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“The pink lady is changing her trademark to an orange jumpsuit,” a North Carolina sheriff said. She got her nickname because she often wore a hot pink purse. A suspected accomplice was also arrested.
App NEWS
PA Diocese Sued For Conspiracy, Fraud Related To Child Abuse
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“You have to ask yourself, why is every diocese in the country dealing with child sex abuse? The answer is, the coverup, the protection afforded to child predators.”
Crime and Justice
Advocates Seek Stricter Limits To Solitary Confinement
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“In New York, people regularly spend months and years and even decades in solitary confinement. People have spent 30 years (there). It’s barbaric. It has to stop.”
Shooter’s Lawyer: He Wasn’t Trying To Kill A New York Boss. He Was Under ‘QAnon’ Delusion
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The lawyer for the man charged with Francesco Cali’s murder says he plans to make an insanity defense including that he became irrational after believing a pro-Trump Internet conspiracy theory.
As Manhattan’s District Attorney, Morgenthau Pursued Both Drug Dealers And Crooked Bankers
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Robert Morgenthau, the patrician lawman who a former aide said spent four decades “making mischief for people who engaged in bad conduct,” died Sunday at age 99.
New York Judge Sentences Mexican Drug Kingpin ‘El Chapo’ To Life Plus 30 Years In U.S. Prison
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Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the 62-year-old former head of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, was convicted in February for drug crimes. A life sentence was mandatory.
App NEWS
Ithaca Common Council Issues Letter To District Attorney Over Controversial April Arrests
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“The need is it let the public know that we are deeply concerned about this issue.”
Crime and Justice
Bipartisan PA Pair Looks To Take Clean Slate Law A Step Further
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It’s part of a broader effort to make the commonwealth’s criminal justice system less punitive.
Crime and Justice
Katko Bill Would Review Pretrial Release, Electronic Monitoring
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Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) is introducing a bill to review the pretrial release system across the country. It would focus on the monitoring practices for those on pretrial release.
Crime and Justice
PA Passes Landmark Assault-Reporting Requirements For Colleges
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Pennsylvania is in the early stages of enacting new requirements designed to reduce sexual assault on college campuses.
Crime and Justice
Marsy’s Law Passes In PA, Now Heads To Voter Referendum
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The bill doesn’t change much about the existing laws protecting crime victims. Jennifer Storm, the state’s Victim Advocate, said it would mainly give them standing to sue if those rights are violated.
NXIVM Leader Keith Raniere Found Guilty Of All Charges In Sex Cult Case
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The secretive group espoused a philosophy of self-help but was accused of recruiting women as sex slaves. Charges against Raniere, known as “The Vanguard,” included sex trafficking and racketeering.
Feds Seize Estimated $1 Billion In Cocaine From Ship In PA
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The drugs were reportedly found in seven containers aboard the MSC Gayane at Philadelphia’s Packer Marine Terminal. Authorities say it is one of the biggest-ever drug busts in the U.S.
New York Activists Launch Hunger Strike To End Long-Term Solitary Confinement
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Activists and survivors of solitary confinement are on a hunger strike to try to convince New York state lawmakers to end long-term solitary confinement.
New York’s ‘Operation Meltdown’ Targets Ice Cream Truck Scheme
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Mayor Bill de Blasio said officials began seizing 46 ice cream trucks in a crackdown on owners who allegedly skirted 22,495 summonses and evaded nearly $4.5 million in traffic violation fees.
New York Police Say They Have ‘Subway Brake Bandit’
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New York transit officials think he would surf on top of a train, get into the operating cabin, and then yank the emergency brake. The train would be delayed, along with others on that line.
Crime and Justice
A Proposal Aims To Make It Easier For PA Convicts To Earn Professional Licenses
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There’s a bipartisan push in the Capitol to ensure job opportunities aren’t being unfairly limited.
Crime and Justice
PA House Settles On Rural-Friendly Path For Updating Judicial Elections
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“Just like we have diversity when we create statute, we should have diverse opinions from the vast diversity of Pennsylvania come into play when the courts are applying those statutes.”
Uncategorized
PA Prosecutors Eye Potential ‘Environmental Crimes.’
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“All they’ve ever gotten is a slap on the wrist. It’s time for that to change. I’ll hold the oil and gas companies criminally liable for poisoning our air and our drinking water.”
Crime and Justice
Opponents To PA’s Death Penalty Get A Bipartisan Boost
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An odd-couple pair of House lawmakers are teaming up on a bill that would get rid of the death penalty in Pennsylvania.
App NEWS
Report: State Senator Had Sexual Encounter With Murder Victim’s Mother
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When a police investigator, Fred Akshar (R – Endwell) had intimate relations with a mother of a crime victim. According to the Gannett papers, Akshar had helped investigate her son’s murder.
Crime and Justice
‘Major’ Drug Bust Arrests 65 For Heroin, Fentanyl Trafficking In Central, Northern New York
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“When you see 65 of these people being arrested, 65 of the people who are responsible for bringing this dangerous drug into our community locked up, that’s a good day for us.”
App NEWS
Cash Grab: As Asset Forfeiture Quietly Expands Across PA, Abuses Follow
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Lawsuits show police have sometimes used this powerful tool to take property from innocent people. Now, there has been a radical shift that’s occurred with little notice.
Crime and Justice
New York Law Lets Most Police Agencies Decide Whether To Release Mugshots
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“The objective here is to protect individuals, who are not convicted of a crime in many instances, from having their mugshots be publicly listed into perpetuity.”
Crime and Justice
Auditor General Praises Dwindling Rape Kit Backlog
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In 2015, the Department of Health reported more than 1,800 rape kits collected in Pennsylvania had been sitting, untested, for at least a year.
Crime and Justice
Welfare Officers Reportedly Missed Red Flags In PA Teen’s Brutal Murder
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A report on the case from the commonwealth’s Human Services Department has found that investigators missed signs of abuse for years.
App NEWS
New York Lawsuit Claims Sackler Family Illegally Profited From Opioid Epidemic
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“This lawsuit contains detailed allegations about the Sackler family and their attempt to hide the vast fortunes they collected at the expense of actual lives.”
Man Pleads Guilty In New York To Fleecing Facebook And Google Of $100 Million
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Evaldas Rimasauskas admitted to his role in helping to orchestrate a two-year-long scam that tricked employees into wiring more than $100 million to his own company’s bank accounts.
Attorney Michael Avenatti, Sometime Scourge To Trump, Faces Federal Charges In New York
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Prosecutors in both California and New York City announced charges against the well-known onetime attorney for Stormy Daniels. Avenatti also had a cameo in the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation saga.
New York Judge Orders Pipe Bomb Suspect Cesar Sayoc Held Without Bail
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Prosecutors said Sayoc posed “a serious risk of danger to the public” and described him as “a flight risk.” His lawyer made no objection to the decision. Sayoc could face up to 48 years in jail.
Fired By Trump, New York Prosecutor Describes The Justice System He Served
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In an interview, former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara talks about his new book, Doing Justice, and weighs in on how executives have been able to avoid criminal prosecution and on Robert Mueller’s probe.
binghamton
Survivor Of Childhood Sexual Assault Continues Quest To Pass Erin’s Law In New York State
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The proposed law would also mandate instruction for parents, guardians and school personel on how to recognize the signs of child sexual abuse and how to respond.
Crime and Justice
ACLU Blasts PA Prison For ‘Blatantly Unconstitutional’ Legal Mail Policy
|
Three weeks ago, the state prison system settled a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and other groups who said the Department of Corrections was violating inmates’ constitutional rights by making copies of legal mail.
New York Indicts Paul Manafort, Given Another 3.5 Years In Prison
|
Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman was ordered to serve some of his time concurrently with a 4-year term handed down last week, making his sentence a total of 7.5 years.
Frank Cali, Reputed Gambino Crime Family Boss, Killed In New York Attack
|
In a killing that echoes mob murders of the 1980s, a man who was believed to be running a Mafia family was gunned down outside his home in Staten Island.
Crime and Justice
PA Attorney General, Delaware County District Attorney Launch Criminal Investigation Into Sunoco, Energy Transfer
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The Department of Environmental Protection has issued more than 80 violations, halted construction at times along the route, and fined the company $12.6 million.
Crime and Justice
Anticipating Trump Pardons, Attorney General Wants Close New York’s Double Jeopardy “Loophole”
|
New York’s Attorney General Tish James says she’s reached an agreement with the state legislature to amend the state’s double jeopardy laws.
Ton And A Half Of Cocaine Seized At Port Of New York/Newark
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Authorities say 60 packages of the drug worth about $77 million on the street were found in a shipping container.
PA Judge Sentenced To 28 Years In Massive Juvenile Justice Bribery Scandal
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Mark Ciavarella Jr. was convicted of taking bribes from developers of juvenile detention centers. The case, known as “kids for cash” led to the tossing of 4,000 convictions issued by Ciavarella.
crime
Three PA Prison Staffers Arrested For Drug Smuggling
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The Department of Corrections has arrested three staff members at three different state prisons for trying to smuggle in drugs.
Crime and Justice
Investigation Into PA Pipeline Builder Energy Transfer Now Includes Grand Jury
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Energy Transfer, parent company of Sunoco Logistics and builder of the Mariner East natural gas liquids pipelines, is the target of a Chester County grand jury investigation.
New York Political Operative Among People Contacted For House Trump Probe
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A Western New York political operative and former campaign aide for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump is one of more than 80 people or entities contacted by the House Judiciary Committee, which is now looking into alleged misdeeds by the president.
New York Lawmakers Call For Less Piercing Emergency Vehicle Sirens
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Council Member Helen Rosenthal introduced a bill this month after receiving complaints about the impact of wailing ambulances.
Crime and Justice
Trial Begins This Week Over Mail Policy In PA Prisons
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A trial is slated to start Tuesday in a federal court in Harrisburg over the way the state prison system delivers legal mail to prisoners.
Ex-New-York-Congressman Finishes Prison Term
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The New York congressman was sentenced to 21 months after he sent an explicit photo of himself to a 15-year-old girl.
New York City Police Detective Killed By Apparent ‘Friendly Fire’
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Police said they found an imitation gun at the scene of the reported armed robbery. The 19-year-veteran of the force was not supposed to report to work on the day he died.
‘El Chapo,’ Notorious Drug Kingpin, Found Guilty After Dramatic Trial In New York
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Joaquín Guzmán was convicted on all 10 counts he faced related to his leading of Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa cartel.
Crime and Justice
Criminal Justice Reformers Hope To See Action From New York Lawmakers Soon
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New York lawmakers say it’s likely they will vote soon to end cash bail and make other changes to help defendants who they say are unfairly treated in in the state’s criminal justice system.
New York Jury Hears Closing Arguments In Dramatic ‘El Chapo’ Trial
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Prosecutor Andrea Goldbarg said in her closing arguments that Joaquín Guzmán led the Sinaloa drug cartel. Dozens of witnesses said he tortured and killed people and that he bribed officials in Mexico.
courts
Calling PA Laws ‘Antiquated,’ Bipartisan Group Pushes Parole Reform
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A group of state lawmakers is launching a proposal to make several major changes to Pennsylvania’s probation and parole laws. Unlike many efforts in Harrisburg, it’s bipartisan.
Crime and Justice
PA’s Governor, Others Call For Resignations As Two Lawmakers Are Accused Of Assault
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Governor Tom Wolf and state House Republicans are calling on a GOP lawmaker to resign over a reported allegation of rape. And that’s not the only misconduct claim coming to light involving a member of the General Assembly–the Senate is also hiring an outside investigator to delve into accusations against one of its members.
New York Reaches $3.3 Million Settlement With Kalief Browder’s Family
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Browder endured nearly three years on Rikers, most of it in solitary confinement, awaiting trial that never happened. He committed suicide in 2015. His death led to nationwide criminal justice reform.
Addiction
Fentanyl Coming To New York In Larger Shipments, But Border Wall With Mexico Unlikely To Change That
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The government shutdown has now reached day 19 as President Trump pushes for $5.7 billion in border wall funding. The president claims a border wall will help combat the flow of drugs like fentanyl from entering the country. A DEA report from this past November says otherwise. But how are these drugs currently making their way to New York State?
Ben Stiller Unlocks An ‘Old-Fashioned’ Prison Break In ‘Escape At Dannemora’
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Stiller’s seven-part Showtime series centers on the true story of two convicted murderers who used tools provided by a prison employee to break out of maximum security prison in 2015.
crime
Crackdown On Human Trafficking Continues In PA
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With the start of the new year, the commonwealth is working to roll out a law aimed at protecting sexually exploited children. Act 130, known as the Safe Harbor law, ensures child victims of human trafficking won’t be prosecuted for prostitution or other crimes.
New York Prosecutors Charge Chinese Hackers In Bid To Curtail Cyber-Theft
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The two men are accused of being part of a vast government effort to transfer American trade, technology and defense secrets into Chinese hands, but are unlikely to face trial.
Judge Denies Bid To Drop New York’s Charges Against Harvey Weinstein
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Weinstein’s legal team unsuccessfully attempted to throw out charges of rape and sexual assault. Allegations against Weinstein from a multitude of women boosted the #MeToo movement.
Crime and Justice
District Attorney Opens Criminal Investigation Into Mariner East Pipeline Project
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The Chester County District Attorney said Wednesday he is opening a criminal investigation into Sunoco’s Mariner East pipeline project because it has caused sinkholes, contaminated water and has resulted in “not so subtle bullying” of residents.
Trump Foundation To Dissolve Amid New York AG’s Investigation
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Faced with an ongoing investigation by the New York Attorney General, the foundation has agreed to dissolve under judicial supervision.
binghamton
New York State Announces Record-Breaking Consumer Fraud Settlement With Charter/Spectrum
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New York State Attorney General Barbara Underwood on Tuesday announced a record $174 million consumer fraud settlement with Charter Communications, the corporate name for Spectrum, which provides cable, internet and phone services across the state.
crime
Marsy’s Law Backers Prep For Final PA Push, But Skeptics Remain
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When a new state legislative session starts next month, a group of crime victim advocates plans to hit the ground running to finish a longstanding effort.
arts
Endicott Man Accused Of Damaging Frederick Douglass Statue, Denies Racism
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Rochester Police are investigating damage done to one of the 13 statues of Frederick Douglass that have been placed around the city. Police say that early Sunday morning, shortly after midnight, officers responded to the area near 1 Tracy Street, which is near Alexander St., for the report of males trying to steal a statue.
Crime and Justice
Algorithm To Reform Criminal Sentencing In PA Faces Deluge Of Criticism
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Nearly a decade after being tasked with the assignment, a state commission is still grappling with a mandate to create a risk assessment algorithm for Pennsylvania judges to use during criminal sentencing procedures.
Crime and Justice
PA Lawmaker Resigns, Will Challenge Bribery Conviction
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An embattled State House Democrat convicted of accepting a bribe has resigned, under pressure from legislative leaders.
binghamton
‘Buffalo Billions’ Official Convicted Of Bid Rigging, Gets Jail Time
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The former head of key economic develop programs for Governor Andrew Cuomo, including the Buffalo Billion, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by a federal judge Tuesday.
Crime and Justice
Trooper Rescues Canadian Lynx From Pick-Up Truck, Arrests Driver
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State Police say a trooper who stopped to help a driver with a flat tire near Elmira over the weekend found out the call was anything but routine.
New York Prosecutors File First US Charges Stemming From Panama Papers Leak
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U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman says the defendants “had a playbook to repatriate un-taxed money into the U.S. banking system.”
Crime and Justice
Recent Court Ruling Could Change How PA Uses Investigative Grand Juries
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The state Supreme Court recently ruled that a group of current and former clergy members could not be named in a grand jury report implicating them in child abuse and coverups in six Roman Catholic dioceses.
crime
PA Touted As Model For Criminal Justice Reform, But Officials Say There’s More To Do
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As lawmakers in Washington debate a proposal to ease harsh federal sentencing guidelines and shorten some prison terms, Pennsylvania is being cited as a role model.
Crime and Justice
Developer Sentenced To 28 Months In Buffalo Billion Bid-Rigging Case
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A Buffalo developer has been sentenced to 28 months in prison and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine in a bid-rigging scheme connected to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “Buffalo Billion” economic redevelopment program.
crime
Kathleen Kane Expected To Report Today To A PA Prison
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NORRISTOWN, PA (WHYY) – A judge has rejected former state Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s eleventh-hour bid to stay out of jail, clearing the path for Kane to start serving her time as an inmate under county supervision.
Crime and Justice
After Two Years On Bail, Former PA Attorney General Faces Imminent Jail Time
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Former state Attorney General Kathleen Kane is likely headed to jail soon. More than two years ago, Kane was convicted of leaking secret grand jury information and lying about it.
Gab Server Subpoenaed By Pennsylvania Attorney General
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Tweets by Gab, a social media site used by the suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, show that the site’s new server host, Epik has been served a subpoena by the Pittsburgh Attorney General.
Notorious Drug Lord ‘El Chapo’ Heads To Trial In New York
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Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the man accused of having run the world’s largest drug trafficking organization, was charged in a 17-count indictment that spans decades. Jury selection began Monday.
PA Synagogue Attack Took Place In Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
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Fred Rogers lived in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood while making his children’s television show, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
crime
Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty In Synagogue Shooting, But It’s Far From Settled
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PITTSBURGH, PA (WSKG) — The anti-Semitic gunman who allegedly killed 11 and wounded six others in Pittsburgh this weekend is facing 29 federal charges.
Suspect Identified In Suspicious Package Case Following Arrest In Florida
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Cesar Altieri Sayoc was arrested after more devices were found on Friday. Packages have been sent to at least 10 targets this week, all of whom are critics or opponents of President Trump.
Crime and Justice
Former NY State Senate Leader Sentence To Prison
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NEW YORK (Associated Press) Former New York state Senate leader Dean Skelos was sentenced to four years and three months in prison Wednesday after his conviction on public corruption charges.
binghamton
Cuomo Says Suspicious Mailing At His Office Not A Threat
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ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – Governor Andrew Cuomo now says a suspicious device was mailed to his offices in New York City, was not part of the spate of bombs or bomb like devices delivered Wednesday to the homes of former Presidents Clinton and Obama, and CNN.
Explosive Device Mailed To Liberal Philanthropist George Soros’ New York Home
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The device was safely detonated by a bomb squad. The case has been handed over to the Joint Terrorism Task Force Division of the FBI.
Feds Launch Sex Abuse Probe Of Pennsylvania’s Roman Catholic Church
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NPR has learned that the Justice Department issued subpoenas to at least six of the state’s eight dioceses seeking private files and records.
Crime and Justice
New York State Police Warn Against Phone Scam
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ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) – If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the New York State Police and seeking personal information, don’t share anything — it’s a scam.
New York City Had Its First Weekend Without A Shooting In 25 Years
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“A city of 8.6 million people — not a single shooting for three days,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday. The NYPD says it has been focusing on preventing retaliatory violence.
binghamton
February 2020 Date Set For Congressman Chris Collins Trial
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BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) – A trial date of Feb. 3, 2020 has beens set for the federal insider trading case involving Rep. Chris Collins.
Son Of Limo Company Owner Arrested, Accused Of Homicide After Deadly Crash
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New York State Police charged Nauman Hussain just days after an accident killed 20 people in New York. His father’s company has a record of failed inspections.
Crime and Justice
Despite Outlier Status, PA Lawmakers Don’t Make Public Defense A Priority
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HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) — If you hunt hard enough around Harrisburg, it is possible to find lawmakers who are on board with allocating state money for the public defense of the poor.
Crime and Justice
Sexual Assault Survivors Call For Long-Term Extension Of Violence Against Women Act
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SYRACUSE, NY (WRVO) – The Violence Against Women Act, which provides funding, services and other legislative impacts for domestic and sexual violence survivors, is set to expire at the end of the month. Local advocates are calling on Congress to extend the law.
Crime and Justice
With Time Running Out, PA Senators Won’t Pass Sex Abuse Bill As-Is
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HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) — The state House has passed a major bill aimed at making it easier for victims of child sex abuse to sue their abusers.
‘Lion King’ Technician Arrested After Allegedly Printing 3D Gun At New York Theater
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Ilya Vett, 47, said he was printing the gun for his brother who has a firearms license, according to police. Vett has been charged with attempted criminal possession of a firearm.
Crime and Justice
Former Cuomo Aide Sentenced To 6 Years In Federal Prison
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ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – Gov. Cuomo’s former closest aid received a prison sentence Thursday day of six years after being convicted of illegally gaining over $300,000 in bribery schemes.
binghamton
Indicted Congressman Reverses Course, Says He Will Campaign For Re-Election
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BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) – An indicted New York congressman who had announced he was withdrawing from his race has reversed course and now says he will continue to campaign for re-election and plans to serve again if he wins this November.
crime
PA’s An Outlier In Life-Without-Parole. There’s A Growing Push To Change That
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HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) — Pennsylvania sentences more people to life in prison without the possibility of parole than any other state–and indeed, any other country–per capita, according to a new study from the Abolitionist Law Center.
binghamton
Indicted GOP Congressman To Remain On Ballot In The NY27th District
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ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) – Indicted congressman Chris Collins will remain on the ballot in the November election in the 27th District.
New York Philharmonic Musicians In Limbo After Investigation
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After a five-month investigation, the New York City orchestra took action against oboist Liang Wang and trumpeter Matthew Muckey over unspecified misconduct.
Judge Calls Former PA Treasurer ‘Paradox,’ Hands Down 30-Month Sentence
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(Harrisburg) — Former state Treasurer Rob McCord has been sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison for using his office in an attempt to extort money for a foundering gubernatorial bid.
Crime and Justice
Arguments Conclude In Another Penn State Hazing Hearing, Ruling To Come
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KEYSTONE CROSSROADS – Both sides gave closing statements on Wednesday in the fourth preliminary hearing of the Penn State hazing case. All seven defendants face charges that had been dismissed by two districts judges earlier this year.