Crime News
The Daily Signal reports on crime news with analysis and commentary on policies, crime rates, and policing debates.
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- Opinion
Corruption Scandals Tarnish Chile’s Strong Rule of Law Reputation
With an overall score of 78.5, Chile remained the 7th freest economy in the world in the 2015 Index of Economic Freedom and retained its rank as first in the Latin American and the Caribbean region. Beginning with the first edition of the Index in 1995, successive governments in Chile from the center-left and center-right…James M. Roberts -
- Opinion
As Coast Guard Combats Drug Trafficking, Budget Shortfalls Linger
Following 19 interdictions along the Central and South American coasts, the crew of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell returned home on April 16 with over 28,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $424 million. Collectively, these busts are a significant accomplishment for the sea service; however, they only represent a portion of the…Max Meizlish -
- Opinion
The Justice Department’s War on Texas’ Voter ID Law
On Tuesday, April 28, Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller will be up before a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals again, his second appearance there in two weeks. But this time, instead of arguing over the unconstitutionality of President Obama’s immigration amnesty plan, he will be arguing that the Texas voter ID…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
A Flawed Legal Analysis Is Helping Lois Lerner
On March 31, Ronald Machen, the outgoing U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, wrote House Speaker John Boehner to inform him that the Justice Department would not present Lois Lerner’s contempt citation to a federal grand jury. The letter explaining his decision is an exercise in misdirection—the kind of misdirection that magicians use to…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
The Palestinians Have Officially Joined the International Criminal Court. What the US Should Do.
The International Criminal Court, the first permanent international court established to try and punish individuals committing genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression, now counts the Palestinians among its members. Earlier this year, the Palestinian Authority announced their intent to accede to the Statute of the International Criminal Court and officially…Brett Schaefer -
- News
A Woman Accused of Removing a 7-Month Baby From a Mother’s Womb Is Not Being Charged With Murder. Why That Has Sparked a Legal Debate.
The decision not to charge a Colorado woman with murder for the death of an unborn 7-month-old baby has reinvigorated a debate over when states should legally recognize a fetus as a human being. Dynel Lane, the woman accused of cutting and removing a 7-month-old baby from a mother’s body, will not face murder charges,…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
Russia Sends Nuclear-Capable Bombers to Crimea
KYIV, Ukraine—As NATO and Russia simultaneously launch military exercises stretching from Eastern Europe into the Arctic, Russian defense officials said this week that supersonic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons will be deployed to Crimea. According to the Russian news agency TASS, Tupolev TU-22M3 strategic bombers will be positioned in the former Ukrainian territory as…Nolan Peterson -
- News
The Russia-Ukraine Conflict in Pictures, One Year After Crimea’s Annexation
KYIV, Ukraine—Monday marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a former Ukrainian territory. Russia’s takeover of Crimea is an ongoing source of tension between Russia and Ukraine, and a potential flash point for escalating the nearly year-old war in eastern Ukraine. The United States and other NATO countries have labeled Russia’s move to…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
The Justice Department Is Giving Away Your Money (Without Your Permission)
For the past decade, the U.S. Justice Department has engaged in the dubious practice of giving away the public’s money when it settles a case, by sometimes conditioning a settlement on a company’s agreement to donate money to a third-party of the government’s (or the defendant’s) choosing. For example, the Justice Department settled cases last…Paul J. Larkin -
- News
Justice Department Takes Credit for Second Operation Choke Point Settlement
The Daily Signal has reported multiple cases where innocent small business owners believe they were unfairly targeted by the Justice Department’s controversial initiative known as Operation Choke Point. Now, the agency it touting a case it says it got right. On Tuesday, the Justice Department announced it reached a $4.9 million settlement with CommerceWest Bank…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
Meet the 19th Century American Who Warned About Big Government, Religious Liberty Assaults
2015 marks a milestone in American history. One hundred and fifty years ago, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant and ended the Civil War. Shortly thereafter, Orestes Augustus Brownson (1803-1876), a prominent journalist and philosopher, published “The American Republic,” an erudite defense of the Federal Constitution. As noted in our…Robert Moffit -
- Opinion
Government and Societal Action Critical for Fighting Human Trafficking
“We can change all the laws we want—but until we change the attitudes and respect for human beings, all this work is for nothing,” said Cindy McCain, head of the McCain Institute’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council, at a recent panel discussion at The Heritage Foundation. Heritage’s Lisa Curtis chaired a panel of experts including Cindy…Emily Runge -
- Opinion
Supreme Court Justices Agree: Overcriminalization Is a Problem in America
On Wednesday, a closely-divided Supreme Court issued a decision holding that tossing a few undersized fish back into the ocean from a boat is not the same thing as shredding a document. While that might be common sense for some, there was a serious legal debate whether a fisherman should be prosecuted under a law…John G. Malcolm -
- News
Loretta Lynch’s Confirmation Moves Forward Despite Lingering Questions About HSBC Scandal
Despite criticism for her decision not to jail the perpetrators of a controversial white-collar crime, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Loretta Lynch this morning to be the next U.S. attorney general, clearing the way for a full Senate vote. In a 12-8 vote, Lynch received unanimous support from the nine Democrats on the Judiciary Committee…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
Benghazi Scandal: New Pentagon Documents Show Military Knew It Was Islamic Terrorism
Close to 500 pages of Pentagon Benghazi-related documents obtained last week by the non-profit group Judicial Watch prove the U.S. military was operating on the assumption terrorists killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans on the night of Sept. 11, 2012. The papers confirm statements about the nature of the attack to congressional…Helle Dale -
- News
N.Y. Attorney General’s Office Denies It Has Records Showing Union Collusion in Papa John’s Lawsuit
Did the New York Attorney General’s Office collude with a local union leader to develop the basis for a lawsuit against a Papa John’s Pizza franchisee? If not — if the union leader was not involved in the investigation of the pizza franchises’ pay and employee practices before it became public– why was the union…Kevin Mooney -
- Opinion
Gary Haugen’s Congressional Testimony on Human Trafficking
In his recent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Gary Haugen, President and CEO of International Justice Mission, shared practical steps that Congress could take to end human trafficking. Haugen emphasized that local law enforcement and a fair judicial system are the keys to defeating this global scourge. Without ending impunity, he says, human…Olivia Enos -
- News
Small Business Owner Questions Why Justice Department Would Threaten His Livelihood
A third-generation veteran says the government is choking him from his livelihood, blocking his access to bank accounts and forcing him to pay exorbitant fees for basic financial services. “I’m an American, and when the government does something like this to its own citizens, it has to be stopped,” said Andy Kramer, owner of Discount…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
Government Drops Forfeiture Case Led by Obama’s Attorney General Nominee
Sometimes, not violating the law can get you in trouble with the law. Just ask the Hirsch family from Long Island, New York. Or, better yet, ask Loretta E. Lynch, the U.S. attorney who could be the nation’s next attorney general. After nearly three years of legal battles, the federal government dropped its case against…Eric Boehm -
- Opinion
Congress Seeks to Improve Global Anti-Trafficking Efforts
As National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month comes to a close, Congress is turning its attention to combatting human trafficking. New estimates suggest that as many as 35.8 million people are victims of human trafficking. Renewed attention on this international crisis is necessary if the U.S. is to continue to lead global anti-trafficking efforts….Olivia Enos