Comments for Texas Tough http://texastough.com Stuff about my book, a history of Texas prisons, as well as info on Texas criminal justice generally Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:52:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 Comment on California Dreaming to California Nightmare by Arnoldo Revalee http://texastough.com/2009/07/15/california-dreaming-to-california-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Arnoldo Revalee Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:52:21 +0000 http://texastough.com/?p=96#comment-139 If Dos Santos wins this, he has to be the number one contender, If Dos Santos wins this, he has to be the number one contender,

]]> Comment on Racism in Criminal Justice: What Is To Be Done? by political humorist http://texastough.com/2008/12/11/racism-in-criminal-justice-what-is-to-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-136 political humorist Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:30:45 +0000 http://texastough.com/?p=39#comment-136 Is all your info straight? I am not trying to be a pain in the behind, conversely I don't spot how this makes total sense! Much Thanks! Is all your info straight? I am not trying to be a pain in the behind, conversely I don’t spot how this makes total sense! Much Thanks!

]]> Comment on Racism in Criminal Justice: What Is To Be Done? by Tyson F. Gautreaux http://texastough.com/2008/12/11/racism-in-criminal-justice-what-is-to-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Tyson F. Gautreaux Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:29:00 +0000 http://texastough.com/?p=39#comment-121 I've been reading a few posts and really and enjoy your writing. I'm just starting up my own blog and only hope that I can write as well and give the reader so much insight. I’ve been reading a few posts and really and enjoy your writing. I’m just starting up my own blog and only hope that I can write as well and give the reader so much insight.

]]> Comment on Racism in Criminal Justice: What Is To Be Done? by jhole http://texastough.com/2008/12/11/racism-in-criminal-justice-what-is-to-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-26 jhole Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:44:49 +0000 http://texastough.com/?p=39#comment-26 While the article was quite interesting, I don't understand why we waste so much energy trying to figure out why there are so many prisoners. Wouldn't we be better off just finding an uninhabited island somewhere and just dumping them all there? Seems like the classic out of sight, out of mind scenario so then we could focus on more important issues. It's clear they don't get rehabilitated, so maybe we should just cut the losses. I guess the downside would be the massive unemployment uptick we would see by all those defense lawyers being out of work. While the article was quite interesting, I don’t understand why we waste so much energy trying to figure out why there are so many prisoners. Wouldn’t we be better off just finding an uninhabited island somewhere and just dumping them all there? Seems like the classic out of sight, out of mind scenario so then we could focus on more important issues. It’s clear they don’t get rehabilitated, so maybe we should just cut the losses. I guess the downside would be the massive unemployment uptick we would see by all those defense lawyers being out of work.

]]> Comment on Scooter Scoots Free by lineman338 http://texastough.com/2007/07/03/scooter-scoots-free/comment-page-1/#comment-12 lineman338 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:20:39 +0000 http://texastough.com/2007/07/03/scooter-scoots-free/#comment-12 It is one of things I can never understand ... how people can think that way. It's so illogical that it can only be based upon moronity. It is one of things I can never understand … how people can think that way. It’s so illogical that it can only be based upon moronity.

]]> Comment on Prosecutors Gone Wild by mudlark http://texastough.com/2008/03/05/prosecutors-gone-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-20 mudlark Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:25:17 +0000 http://texastough.com/2008/03/05/prosecutors-gone-wild/#comment-20 Bottom line: If you were a white college student from New England whose father was raised by a black family (making your putative grandparents black); or a white college student from New England whose father built a hospital in Africa and supported black education--what sort of fair hearing could you expect if you were falsely accused of raping a poor black woman in the South? For the answer, see Durham, 2006. (Being white and Yankee were all that mattered in that case; the evidence was irrelevant.) Bottom line: If you were a white college student from New England whose father was raised by a black family (making your putative grandparents black); or a white college student from New England whose father built a hospital in Africa and supported black education–what sort of fair hearing could you expect if you were falsely accused of raping a poor black woman in the South?

For the answer, see Durham, 2006.

(Being white and Yankee were all that mattered in that case; the evidence was irrelevant.)

]]> Comment on No Belt? Try Handcuffs by robertperkinson http://texastough.com/2007/09/01/no-belt-try-handcuffs/comment-page-1/#comment-19 robertperkinson Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:50:51 +0000 http://texastough.com/2007/09/01/no-belt-try-handcuffs/#comment-19 The point here is not that the law should be enforced differentially, that those who have been the victims of historical discrimination should be given a free pass. Rather, it's that the law itself in this case seems to have been crafted with a specific demographic in mind, making its equal enforcement rather difficult. The point is that the laws should be crafted toward equal enforcement and that they should thereafter be equally enforced. The point here is not that the law should be enforced differentially, that those who have been the victims of historical discrimination should be given a free pass. Rather, it’s that the law itself in this case seems to have been crafted with a specific demographic in mind, making its equal enforcement rather difficult. The point is that the laws should be crafted toward equal enforcement and that they should thereafter be equally enforced.

]]> Comment on No Belt? Try Handcuffs by oldinjun http://texastough.com/2007/09/01/no-belt-try-handcuffs/comment-page-1/#comment-18 oldinjun Mon, 25 Feb 2008 02:28:57 +0000 http://texastough.com/2007/09/01/no-belt-try-handcuffs/#comment-18 This is really a issue for all colors of people. White Black Yellow Brown Red Why do we continue to have these problems? this is a multifaceted question from every angle. why do the police constantly harrass a black man and no one else? the question is why do black men whine so much. do you feel you are owed exemption from the law because your great great grandfather was taken into the slave trade in america? I tell you this , your grandfather and grandmother are owed a apology and anything they would want for what they were put through.NOT YOU!!!! did you march with DR. KING to SELMA no!! did you comfort Mrs. Evers, did you stand up for Malcome. If you walk and talk like you are owed something Tell me what you have invested into the cause.Are your parents honored with your presence, or do you not know how to pay homage for the work that they have done. even if you have had those people walk out of your life, what have you done with the gift. You want respect!!!!1.RESPECT is EARNED Not OWED!!!!2.Respect must be given to be obtained. This is not only a black problem this is a universal COLOR problem. Maybe the law enforcement does push-up on you. they push-up on alot of us. If we have alcohol, drugs, pornography, speed, drive wrecklessly, or make a mistake while driving, or hang around places we would not take the ones that are the most proud of us, maybe this is not law enforcements problem, maybe it is OUR FAULT TO A DEGREE. The laws are simple in Texas. You break them you go to Jail and if you do Quit ca bitchin bout they had no right to harrass me you were just a fool. This is really a issue for all colors of people.
White Black Yellow Brown Red Why do we continue to have these problems? this is a multifaceted question from every angle. why do the police constantly harrass a black man and no one else? the question is why do black men whine so much. do you feel you are owed exemption from the law because your great great grandfather was taken into the slave trade in america? I tell you this , your grandfather and grandmother are owed a apology and anything they would want for what they were put through.NOT YOU!!!! did you march with DR. KING to SELMA no!! did you comfort Mrs. Evers, did you stand up for Malcome. If you walk and talk like you are owed something Tell me what you have invested into the cause.Are your parents honored with your presence, or do you not know how to pay homage for the work that they have done. even if you have had those people walk out of your life, what have you done with the gift. You want respect!!!!1.RESPECT is EARNED Not OWED!!!!2.Respect must be given to be obtained. This is not only a black problem this is a universal COLOR problem. Maybe the law enforcement does push-up on you. they push-up on alot of us. If we have alcohol, drugs, pornography, speed, drive wrecklessly, or make a mistake while driving, or hang around places we would not take the ones that are the most proud of us, maybe this is not law enforcements problem, maybe it is OUR FAULT TO A DEGREE. The laws are simple in Texas. You break them you go to Jail and if you do Quit ca bitchin bout they had no right to harrass me you were just a fool.

]]> Comment on Racing Toward Scottsboro by Brunello http://texastough.com/2007/06/23/racing-toward-scottsboro/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Brunello Sat, 25 Aug 2007 23:29:12 +0000 http://texastough.com/2007/06/23/racing-toward-scottsboro/#comment-9 Apologies for the follow-up post, but I just read the Texas Observer story linked to this blog. Seems that new legislation in Texas also mandates the death penalty for repeat child sex offenders. Following Darrow's reasoning (see above), the citizens of Texas can also now look forward to an increase in child homicide--and to "disappeared" children who in fact have been killed. If the penalty is the same for multiple-offense child sexual molestation as it is for murder, it only makes sense for a sexual predator to dispose of the evidence when he's finished. Even if he's eventually captured (less likely without a living victim to be interviewed and/or to testify...or a corpse to be examined for physical evidence) he will pay the same price for either crime. But, of course, the real purpose of such patently counterproductive legislation is not to prevent crime, but to gain re-election by pandering to the Yahoo vote. The hell with the kids. Apologies for the follow-up post, but I just read the Texas Observer story linked to this blog. Seems that new legislation in Texas also mandates the death penalty for repeat child sex offenders. Following Darrow’s reasoning (see above), the citizens of Texas can also now look forward to an increase in child homicide–and to “disappeared” children who in fact have been killed. If the penalty is the same for multiple-offense child sexual molestation as it is for murder, it only makes sense for a sexual predator to dispose of the evidence when he’s finished. Even if he’s eventually captured (less likely without a living victim to be interviewed and/or to testify…or a corpse to be examined for physical evidence) he will pay the same price for either crime. But, of course, the real purpose of such patently counterproductive legislation is not to prevent crime, but to gain re-election by pandering to the Yahoo vote. The hell with the kids.

]]> Comment on Racing Toward Scottsboro by Brunello http://texastough.com/2007/06/23/racing-toward-scottsboro/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Brunello Sat, 25 Aug 2007 22:56:30 +0000 http://texastough.com/2007/06/23/racing-toward-scottsboro/#comment-7 So Texas, in its wisdom, has now reinstituted the death penalty for sexual assault without homicide? Seventy-five years ago Clarence Darrow had this say about the subject: "A man committing rape will get the same punishment under this law that he will get for murder, so he might as well go the whole way and remove the evidence." That and the fact that some juries, even in Texas, will be less likely to convict in a sexual assault case when the punishment is so disproportionate to the crime, means that from now on, in the Lone Star State, there will be more rapists on the street--and more murderers, encouraged by the new law--not fewer. Good going. So Texas, in its wisdom, has now reinstituted the death penalty for sexual assault without homicide? Seventy-five years ago Clarence Darrow had this say about the subject: “A man committing rape will get the same punishment under this law that he will get for murder, so he might as well go the whole way and remove the evidence.” That and the fact that some juries, even in Texas, will be less likely to convict in a sexual assault case when the punishment is so disproportionate to the crime, means that from now on, in the Lone Star State, there will be more rapists on the street–and more murderers, encouraged by the new law–not fewer. Good going.

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