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What’ s up? I’m Patrick Irving. This is Aww Snap! News.
“Idaho’s first anti-human trafficking task force may have been fueled by fraud.”
Community Outreach Behavioral Services of Idaho bills itself as a saving grace for victims of human trafficking. But according to InvestigateWest, the organization whose clients come at the direction of police, county jails, judges, prosecutors and probation officers appears to be using trafficking victims to arrange for the billing of much, much more. For extreme conflicts of interest at best and government-supported fraud at worst, view:
Ref. “An Idaho safe house claimed it was saving trafficking victims. Women said it was like being ‘trafficked all over again’.” Wilson Criscione and Kelsey Turner, InvestigateWest.
“Idaho local and state agencies directed federal funding to safe house despite complaints and contractual violations.” Kelsey Turner and Wilson Criscione, InvestigateWest.
“Idaho local and state agencies directed federal funding to safe house despite complaints and contractual violations.” Kelsey Turner and Wilson Criscione, InvestigateWest.
“Feds Open Investigation Into Anti-Trafficking Nonprofit After InvestigateWest Exposes Potential Fraud.” Wilson Criscione and Kelsey Turner, InvestigateWest.
#501C3somes
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“Colorado prisons ignore state mandate to abolish slavery.”
In 2018, Colorado voters amended the state’s constitution to free incarcerated people from slavery and indentured servitude. But, as Daniel Ducassi with Law 360 reports, two men in Colorado prisons are now claiming in a lawsuit that the state’s DOC is refusing to abide by the mandate. The men are now seeking to expand their lawsuit to include up to 14,000 plaintiffs.
Ref.: “Colo. prisoners seek class cert. in slave labor suit.” Daniel Ducassi, Law360.
#prisonwatch
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“San Diego County jails killing at an alarming rate.”
More than $75,000,000 in lawsuits have been paid out by San Diego County for preventable jail deaths and injuries since 2019. Two egregious examples recently detailed by the San Diego Union-Tribune include a 24-year-old pregnant woman who sheriffs deputies left to die after watching collapse, and a developmentally disabled woman found to have withered away for weeks.
Ref.: “After record $15 million settlement, San Diego still confronts a slew of other jail-death lawsuits.” Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union- Tribune.
#badhombresheriff
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“Los Angeles County juvenile services to pay for long history of child sex abuse.”
In Los Angeles County, after California’s 2019 Child Victims Act loosened the criminal and civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse, more than 5,000 plaintiffs filed claims over allegations that took place in foster homes, shelters and juvenile probation and detention facilities. According to reporting by The Imprint, the county’s juvenile probation and detention services has been targeted by more than 2,300 lawsuits in the last three years alone.
Ref.: “A Staggering Tally: Cases Alleging Sexual Abuse of Children in Los Angeles County Now Number Thousands.” Jeremy Loudenback, The Imprint..
#LACountyReckoning
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“Washington sets aside $99,000,000 to make amends with stoners.”
Prison Legal News contributor David M. Reutter reports that nearly 400,000 people with marijuana convictions in Washington state are now eligible to have their convictions vacated and be refunded for money spent during the legal process. A total of $99,000,000 has been set aside by the state to ensure refunds for those convicted prior to Feb 21, 2021. Those impacted can apply for refunds at https://refund.courts.wa.gov.
Ref. “$10 Million Reimbursed for Vacated Washington Drug Possession Convictions.” David M. Reutter, Prison Legal News.
#PotLuck #HashTag #Nickelback
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“Christopher Dunn freed after wrongfully imprisoned for 34 years.”
Missouri’s Christopher Dunn has been released from prison after spending 34 years incarcerated for a murder he didn’t commit. Dunn’s exoneration was secured with the help of the Midwest Innocence Project, one of several such projects in the U.S. made possible by grants and support from donors.
Ref.: “Man freed after murder conviction was overturned speaks with Scripps News.” Scripps News Staff, Scripps News.
“Exonerated murder suspect Christopher Dunn freed after 30 years.” Emily DeLetter, USA Today.
#wrongfullyconvicted
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“Former Inmate Services Corporation employees sentenced for raping shackled transportees.”
The private prisoner transport company Inmate Services Corporation, once based out of Arkansas, has finally been put to sleep. This after two of its employees were sent to prison for raping multiple female transportees and others who worked for the company were accused and convicted of sexual assaults.
Ref. “Private Prison Transport Guards Sentenced to Prison for Raping Detainees.” Douglas Ankney, Prison Legal News.
#RegulationsPlease
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“Baton Rouge PD may have an A-hole problem”
Good news for tourists and citizens of Baton Rouge, Louisiana! According to Jurist News, The Advocate and the city’s WAFB.com, U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick has ruled that the Baton Rouge Police Department’s decades-long practice of conducting severe beatings, strip-searches and flashlight body cavity searches on people seen as behaving suspicious is no longer cool.
Ref.: “BRPD strip search policy ruled ‘unconstitutional’ by chief federal judge.” WAFB.com.
“Federal judge strikes down Baton Rouge police strip search policy as unconstitutional.” Josh Villanueva, Jurist News.
“Baton Rouge police strip search policy is ‘unconstitutional’ on its face, federal judge rules.” Patrick Sloan-Turner, The Advocate.
#touristtrappin
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“Elected Pennsylvania constable who bragged about being a pimp faces criminal charges.”
Pennsylvania State Constable Timothy “Timbo” Raye Heefner is a self-described pimp who is accused of recruiting sex workers from the Franklin County lockup. Heefner is now facing charges for up to 704 criminal offenses, many of which are supported by evidence procured through his prolific Facebook messaging and recorded phone calls to detainees at the local jail.
Ref.: ” ‘Sugar Daddy’ Pennsylvania Constable Accused of Recruiting ‘Sugar Babies’ at Jail.” Prison Legal News.
#BadConstable #JailisCrazy
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“Shots Fired! FCC takes aim at prison telecom providers.”
The Federal Communications Commission in recent months took aim at several abusive practices by prison telecom providers and their downright dirty methods of scoring jail and prison contracts. Visit Prison Policy Initiative at prisonpolicy.org for Wanda Bertam’s report on the how the new FCC regulations will cap the costs of jail and prison phone and video services, and otherwise impact the families and the loved ones of people incarcerated.
Ref.: “FCC votes to slash prison and jail calling rates and ban corporate kickbacks.” Wanda Bertram, Prison Policy Initiative.
#worthrises
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“TV’s Green Power Ranger sought by police after scuffle over handicap parking space with 62-year-old man using walker.”
When earlier this summer confronted for taking a handicapped parking space, actor Hector David Rivera Jr., AKA the Green Power Ranger, allegedly pushed down a man using a walker, and then went on the run. David at the time was scheduled to appear at the Magic Valley Comic-Con, an Idaho event whose website had him featured on its home page.
Ref.: ” ‘Power Rangers’ actor accused of pushing elderly man to the ground in Idaho parking lot.” Jude Binkley, KTVB.com
“Former ‘Power Rangers’ actor charged with battery in Nampa, court date set.” Daisy Bautista, KTVB.com.
#GreenPowerRanger #BreakingBad #PowerRangersBeTrippin #ComicCon
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To learn more on how Earth’s defenders of justice have been caught misusing their powers, follow Aww Snap! News on TikTok @ThePrisonDude.
Patrick Irving is currently incarcerated at the Idaho State Correctional Institution. He is a Prison Journalism Project contributor, a member of PEN America’s forthcoming Incarcerated Writers Bureau and the author of the First Amend This! newsletter. His work has been published by The New York Times, The Harbinger, Idaho Law Review, Solitary Watch, Prison Journalism Project and JSTOR.