Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
The Police Blotter Quote of the Year Award
The award for The Police Blotter Quote of the Year goes to Northeastern University law professor Daniel Medwed.
Being convicted of criminal offenses create a lot of hardships for offenders.
I never knew that. I always thought that those who committed criminal offenses created hardships for their victims. Professor Medwed made the comment defending the newly elected DA of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Rachel Rollins. Here is the list of crimes that Ms. Rollins will decline to prosecute when she takes office.
Rollins, 47, has been widely hailed – and widely criticized – for her well-publicized “Charges to be Declined” list, which she has featured on her campaign webpage.
With rare exception, offenses of shoplifting, trespass, threats, and larceny under $250 will no longer be prosecuted, as well as disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, and “minor driving offenses,” according to the list.
Breaking and entering will not be prosecuted, as long as the perpetrator makes sure the property is vacant. Alternatively, those who commit break-ins of occupied homes because they are cold or tired, but don’t damage anything, will also be in the clear.
Offenders won’t have to worry about going to court over receiving stolen property or underage drinking, and won’t be held accountable for wanton or malicious destruction of property, either.
Cases where an offender is charged with resisting arrest and nothing else will also be turned away, as well as any instances where the person resists arrest while being charged with another offense on Rollins’ “Charges to be Declined” list.
“In the exceptional circumstances where prosecution of one of these charges is warranted, the line DA must first seek permission from his or her supervisor,” Rollins’ website noted.
Making threats will also be permitted, with the exception of those related to domestic violence.
The good citizens of Suffolk County might want to make sure their business, homeowners, and renters insurance premiums are paid-up, at least while they’re still affordable.
Published in Policing
The good citizens of Suffolk County might want… to move away.
@dougwatt
The award for The Police Blotter Quote of the Year goes to Northeastern University law professor Daniel Medwed.
Crime went down in NYC as a direct result of policing and prosecuting these “petty” crimes.
You are what you focus on. Apparently the DA does not care about the people she is purported to represent. She’s only going to prosecute, what, white-collar crime now?
I’d start stealing her office equipment that was under $250 and see what happens.
It’d be a darn shame if her house were to get broken into and/or vandalized every two or three days.
This is more evidence, piled on to the ever-growing mountain of evidence, that there is no apparent limit to the willful foolishness of the Progressive Left.
It is one thing for a DA to practice mercy or leniency in particular and occasional cases, which demonstrate genuine extenuating circumstances. But a blanket policy declaring “we shall ignore Crimes A, B, C & D” is tantamount to an invitation to commit those very crimes.
I would say this is unbelievable, but the Left keeps moving the goalposts in the game of This Is Unbelievable.
That is what came to my mind when I read this. As someone who has been the victim of breaking and entering and theft, it robs you of feeling safe again. I think if someone is cognizant to avoid prosecution by stealing small amounts, they are sane enough to not steal at all; i.e. they know they are doing wrong.
So true. I got threatened with a hammer by a shoplifter once. I was working in a grocery store one summer, and caught a guy stuffing a package of baloney down his pants. He pulled a hammer out of his pocket and shook it at me, but left after my coworker and I started yelling at him. My coworker (a middle-aged black lady) told me I didn’t have to worry about being attacked. She pulled a large caliber revolver from her purse, then said something like “I would have taken care of him, Baby.”
OTOH, some stores have security which is capable of physically preventing a theft. I wouldn’t try to stop anyone unless I was carrying a weapon . . .