Law and Order

Anyone Need a State Contract? How about a Senate Seat?

By Monique Chartier | December 10, 2008 |

Hopefully, the conduct of the next Governor of Illinois will be guided by his or her observations of the fate of the current and prior occupants of the office. The allegations against Blagojevich provide a sharp contrast to a Democratic governor who campaigned for office promising reforms in the wake of disgraced, scandal-tainted Republican chief…

And Off They Go

By Justin Katz | November 13, 2008 |

A mistrial and a plea agreement, and two child-molesting gay prostitutes are free and gone: Two Bristol men charged with multiple molestation and child solicitation counts went to court last week and received a mistrial, nearly nine months after they were arrested by Bristol police following a Bristol and state investigation into crimes against children…

RI Courts and Attorney General: Taking “A Second Chance” to a New Level

By Monique Chartier | August 1, 2008 |

The passage of twenty four hours has conferred no perspective on or fathomability into this: The state courts plan to keep doing business with two cleaning companies that the Carcieri administration fired last week after 31 of their custodians were arrested as suspected illegal immigrants. And Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch is also sticking with…

Crime in the Northeast

By Carroll Andrew Morse | August 1, 2008 |

Is anyone else surprised by State Police Superintendent Brendan Doherty’s assessment of the regional crime situation, as reported in today’s Projo by Richard Dujardin…Doherty said he believes [the joint local/state/federal task force operating in Providence] has become necessary now more than ever because “crime in the Northeast is out of control.”This is the first mention…

The Communication Breakdown Between Governor and Mayor — in Illinois

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 17, 2008 |

Glenn Reynolds is looking at this as a gun-control story, however, for Rhode Islanders, it serves reminder that tensions between Governors and Mayors can be more than simple partisan politics. …Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) on Wednesday raised the possibility of bringing in state troopers or even the Illinois National Guard to help Chicago combat a…

Life as Bobby O

By Justin Katz | July 17, 2008 |

As a writer (lamentably too little of creative works), I find it difficult not to spend some paragraphs indulging in imaginative exercises concerning what the experience of being Bobby Oliveira. Inasmuch as I’ve no interest in addressing the likely consequences of such an indulgence, I’ll offer herewith only a link to his thoughts on his…

Corruption and a Criminal’s Rights

By Justin Katz | July 16, 2008 |

Regardless of the identity of the alleged harasser, I agree with Will that the timing of Bobby Oliveira’s arrest is suspicious. I’d even go so far as to suggest that it’s reason for concern, given its Rhode Island political context: The police yesterday picked up School Committee candidate Robert. T. Oliveira on a year-old arrest…

Local Candidate Arrested in Newport

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 14, 2008 |

Will Ricci of the Ocean State Republican has the scoop on a breaking news story involving a name very familiar in Rhode Island’s blogosphere…

Look What Happens When Local And Federal Law Enforcement Work Together

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 10, 2008 |

The general public keeps hearing from various quarters that immigration is a federal matter, therefore local police authorities shouldn’t take any initiative in enforcing immigration laws. That refrain brings to mind Amanda Milkovits‘ story from the Projo of two Saturdays ago…At dusk, a dozen Providence police officers and state police troopers in unmarked cruisers drove…

Let’s Not Forget DuPont

By Monique Chartier | July 2, 2008 |

Under Andrew’s post “RI Supreme Court Overturns Lead-Paint Verdict”, commenter Greg brings up the unwritten agreement – don’t call it a “settlement” – by which R.I. Attorney General Patrick Lynch excused DuPont paint from his lawsuit and the potential of a very expensive verdict. While Attorney General Lynch said of the settlement in July, 2005…