Archive: October, 2012

State legislature considers more life sentences for juvenile offenders

POSTED: Monday, October 1, 2012, 4:16 PM

After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that life without parole is an unconstitutional sentence for juvenile offenders, Pennsylvania was in the spotlight, with the highest concentration of juvenile lifers in the nation. Well, the General Assembly's apparent move to deal with that court decision isn't exactly assuaging the fears of civil rights advocates. SB 850, which could pass out the state House in the near future, was amended to include new penalties for those convicted of murder as juveniles — and punishments still include life without parole as well as life with possibility of parole. Minimum sentences would be 35 years for juveniles age 15-17 found guilty of first-degree murder, or 25 years for those age 14 and under. Second-degree murder would carry minimum sentences of 30 years (ages 15-17) or 20 years (age 14 and under).

The ACLU of Pennsylvania is arguing that the new law will compound the problem, and consign more children to die in prison. Decarcerate PA says this is a problem that requires more consideration. "SB 850 calls for one of the most substantive changes to this area of the sentencing statute in nearly a century. And yet it is being rushed through the General Assembly without sufficient time for debate and consideration or public input. As has been the case with other important legislation impacting prisoners and/or the judicial process in the past, this legislation is being tacked on as a mere amendment to an otherwise unrelated bill, with the hopes of fast-tracking it into approval. We must not allow this to happen." They're holding a phone bank event Thursday.

Posted by Samantha Melamed @ 4:16 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Video: Philly cop punches woman during Puerto Rican Day gathering

POSTED: Monday, October 1, 2012, 10:03 AM

Puerto Rican Day events in Philly are always a little raucous, but things appear to have taken quite a turn at 5th and Lehigh over the weekend. A video posted on Youtube and circulated on Reddit appears to show a police officer walking up behind a woman and punching her in the mouth, then cuffing her and leading her away — blood dripping from her face. The officer appears to have reacted after being sprayed from behind with something: Leiutentant Ray Evers of the PPD says he's not sure whether it might have been liquid, silly string or possibly mace.

"Our Internal Affairs bureau has started an investigation in relation to the actions of the officer, and it will be fully investigated," says Lieutenant Ray Evers. "We're looking into what happened before the action of the officer and if the actions of the officers were appropriate, within the guidelines of our policy and procedure."

The woman received a summary citation for disorderly conduct and was released, he says.

Posted by Samantha Melamed @ 10:03 AM Permalink | Post a comment

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Massive student walkout shuts down North Broad Street
Preschool wants to ban 'super hero play'
Hey, there's an election tomorrow!
Gov. Corbett finishes rough week with soft landing at Philly.com
PHILAPHILIA Dead-Ass Proposal of the Week: Tun Tavern Reconstruction
So about that alleged Butkovitz ethics probe ...
Philly Mag cover: Whites should criticize blacks
Some committee people support Mandel. Bobby Henon says maybe there's a 'brown bag' of cash in it for them
Why is George Norcross' twenty-something daughter an Inquirer/Daily News executive?
Pantheon of bizarre Philadelphia bureaucratic mascots about to get even more bizarre

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Here at The Naked City, you'll find breaking news, analysis, gossip and surprises about everything from crime and politics to the beating pulse of city life itself. We're good listeners, too:

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