An Attempt at Changing Behavior

According to the Memphis Flyer, the SCSO is trying to help thugs become honest, hard-working citizens. Good luck! Here's an excerpt to the article:

Article

Currently, services such as basic education, drug-abuse programs, and anger management are offered, but attendance is voluntary.

The test program will break selected medium-security-level inmates into three groups. The first group will serve as the control group, and though services won't be mandatory, they will be marketed more heavily.

Inmates in the second group will receive a case manager who will assess their individual needs and assign them to applicable services.

"The case manager will even work with inmates post-release to prevent them from reverting back to old behavior," said Sybille Noble, the current project manager.

The third group will mirror the second group, but they will receive additional services in literacy training provided by faculty from the University of Memphis.


I'd say the biggest factor is whether or not these people go back to the same environment they came from and continue to "hang" with the same thugs they hung with before going to jail. I wonder if they are looking into that as well. Call me skeptical, but I don't hold out a lot of hope on this. I hope it works, but I think factors besides education and employment drive the crimes. Even so, it's worth a try.

Are You Crazy?

Some concerned police officer sent me this ad from the Commercial Appeal. He said it was from the August 25th issue. Go figure . . . .

From Bad to Worse

I highlighted some issues with a few of the Shelby County Jail's booking mugshots a few days ago. Well that's no longer a problem. None of the booking photos are showing up now.

Mayhem in Memphis

Fun with Booking Photos

The pictures taken at the time of booking can be critical at a later date. They can be useful later when used in a lineup. It might be that someone could look at a particular photo and make a positive ID in a major case, like a murder, robbery, rape, etc. How much trouble is it to make sure the photo is a good one and can be used downstream? Most of the photos from the Shelby County jail are very good, however sometimes it appears whoever has the final say on a particular mugshot gets lazy. That laziness could wind up hurting major investigations. Here are some examples of what I'm talking about - click the photos to enlarge:

Shootout at the Tulane (OK Corral)

We've only had 109 murders in Memphis so far this year. We were over 100 back in June. I thought the professors at MSU were chaining crime to higher temperatures, you'd think there would have been more murders. I mean it's been nasty hot and we've only had a few more murders.

Of course there was a little shooting spree last night at the Tulane Apts. and surrounding area, but that's no big deal (8 people shot). We were doing a little light Fugitive operation down there last year and the gangstahs shot at us as they ran away. Hmm, I had forgotten about that.

I think we have needed to get serious with these gangstahs for a long time, but I was told I'm too aggressive. Well, look who's aggressive now. Someone else is going to die if law enforcement doesn't step up and do the job. Of course, these shootings aren't happening in Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, Arlington or other municipalities. It's happening in Memphis - Crime capital of the South.

The DA's Office is saying some of the apartments are to blame for crime in the area, but guess what - the whole county is a crime scene. Failure to aggressively pursue criminals, give them the maximum punishment and hold them in jail is the reason we have such a high crime rate.

Here, There and Everywhere - but jail

Here's where the people who haven't shown up for "booking and processing" are supposed to live. This map also demonstrates the problem of issuing Misdemeanor Citations. As you can see, it's not a good plan for anyone except the criminals.
Click the Map to Enlarge

Arrest or Hall Pass?

From Wikipedia -
An arrest is the action of the police, or person acting under the color of law, to take a person into custody so that they may be forthcoming to answer for the commission of a crime. In many legal systems, an arrest requires mere verbal information to persons that they are under arrest; the laying of hands or restraints upon the arrested person is usually not required to affect an arrest. Also, there are certain non-criminal arrests that allow for the seizure of representatives not present in the legislative body lacking a quorum, and the forfeiture of property.

For serious crimes, the police typically take suspects to a police station or a jail where they will be incarcerated pending a judicial bail determination or an arraignment. In other instances, the police may issue a notice to appear specifying where a suspect is to appear for his arraignment.

While an arrest will not necessarily lead to a state sanction such as imprisonment, the arrest itself may have serious ramifications, such as a loss of a job due to inability to pay bail, loss of public housing, and social stigma. Such effects are termed the collateral consequences of criminal charges.

---

I keep seeing these "beer sting" stories on the news where the headline says N store clerks Arrested! Uh, not quite, they were cited. It sounds like we're being tough on crime, but not really. What has really happened is we issued a "hall pass" to the clerks. I've worked these "stings" and we made "arrests" every time. That should tell someone that what we are doing is not effective. If we keep going back to the same places, and making arrests, we are not changing behavior. Isn't that the goal - to change behavior?

I have never liked the idea of issuing misdemeanor citations. I've always felt misdemeanor citations facilitated crime, rather than curtailed it. Think about a shoplifter who gets a misdemeanor citation. How does the shoplifter perceive the situation? How about, "wow - I'm glad I didn't have to go to jail. Now I can go to the next store and try to be a little smarter. Maybe I won't get busted again." The signal that is sent to the perpetrator is there is no penalty for wrongdoing and the signal sent to the store owner is the cops aren't going to help you.

Under the current system, the person who receives a citation agrees to come in at a later date and be "processed". Consider that this person has already committed a crime and now the "system" is going to trust them to show up at a later date to have their fingerprints taken. Yeah right. That may be one reason we currently have over 2000 warrants for "Failure to Appear for Booking/Processing". These honorable citizens have played the system once again.

Another problem with issuing these citations is that we are turning people loose who may have warrants from other jurisdictions. Until we positively identify a person, we don't really know who we have. The only "positive identification", I believe, is 10 fingers on the fingerprint cards and a little trip to the AFIS machine.

For that reason, I believe law enforcement should cease issuing misdemeanor citations, and instead transport the offenders immediately to a processing station. This would achieve several things if the strategy were adopted. Here are a few:

1. It would inconvenience the perpetrator, which is a small psychological deterrent.
2. It would demonstrate to businesses that the system is doing something.
3. A first offender would get the benefit of having handcuffs placed on them and getting to see the city from the back of a squad car - more applied psychology.
4. We would no longer have warrants on people who don't show up. (we actually get two warrants on these cases because a warrant is issued on the original charge and also for failure to appear)
5. We would capture many fleeing felons from other jurisdictions because we would know, positively who we were dealing with.
6. The community would benefit, because long term, crooks would understand that we are serious.

For those who are issued the citation, once we process them, if they have no other warrants, they would be free to go. That is another benefit of transporting them downtown - they would have to get a ride home!

The immediate processing of misdemeanants would be a cost saving move which would also send a strong signal to would be criminals - commit a misdemeanor - take a ride!

A New Court Date for #3

Number 2 tries harder

It appears Larry Wayne West has been arrested again. While he is trying to become the number one, most arrested person in Shelby County, he is now at 156 arrests. However, Kimberly Johnson has also moved up by one to 201 (if you count misdemeanor citations - which some do). I'm thinking Kimberly will continue to pull away in this race, because she is working the streets and when she doesn't get physically arrested, she gets a "hall pass" otherwise known as a misdemeanor citation.

Misdemeanor citations are a wonderful invention of the legislature. They were invented to let criminals know they can continue their criminal ways without the police getting in their way, so long as they don't make a mistake and commit a felony or a serious misdemeanor in the presence of an officer. (ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE WORST LAWS EVER PASSED)

At least Larry is still in jail. He can't make the $100.00 bail apparently. I wonder what the system is doing to try to "rehabilitate" him after 156 arrests? I'm thinking - nothing. I think he needs to be in a program of some sort, like maybe a program at the correctional center for 11 months and 29 days where he might do such interesting things as cut grass, pick up trash, farm, etc. Mr West is due in General Sessions divison 11 on the 17th at 9:00am. I'll be interested to see what the judge does. He will be getting an attorney appointed at his next court date, or so it seems, since he can't make the $100.00 bond.

The Voters and Convicted Felons Have Spoken

It appears the voters where scared into voting for the incumbent Sheriff. As always, they get what they ask for. I have done what I could to raise the issues in this race because of the incumbents lack of vision and passion for the job, and his hypocrisy. The county attorney is still investigating his ethics violation, and I believe he will be found guilty, particularly after hearing from another person who was on the "cruise". I don't know if it rises to removal from office, but that is out of my hands.

Unfortunately, the mantra was "he's the lesser of two evils" and I feared this would get him back in office. People didn't voted for Luttrell even though he unapologetically took money from felons, indictees, shady characters - at the same time he was raining all over the deputies parade for visiting one. More accurately, they voted against French. I am so close to the situation, I couldn't vote for him, nor could I sit by and let a tyrant get reelected without saying something. Maybe he can learn that not all deputies are afraid to speak out against wrong.

Luttrell will continue running non effective "beer stings" that are paid for by the state, while doing nothing with his band of officers. Twelve officers in narcotics, and twelve in the gang clubs (you can't even call them bureaus due to their lack of numbers) and he has Fugitive whittled down to less than 50 officers. The department needs an additional 100 officers as soon as possible and someone who understands law enforcement in control. Oh well! Shelby County is hopelessly in a tailspin, I fear. Not that French would have been much better, but at least he wouldn't be terrorizing the deputies.

Sheriff Luttrell says its a Scorched Earth Policy

I agree, he has implemented a scorched earth policy at the Sheriff's Office. Anyone who dares not support him stands to get burned, as I was. Three lieutenants were transferred into the Fugitive Bureau on the same day in May of 2005. I was one as were Larry Hill and Juan Settles. I hired in 9/2/75, Larry Hill hired in 6/1/88 and Juan Settles hired in 9/23/90. I had 13 more years seniority than Larry and 15 years more than Juan. Both officer's seniority combined didn't add up to mine. Don't get me wrong, these are good officers, but I've done a thing or two myself. I should not have been sent to midnights, unless I requested it. However, I was sent to the midnight shift and given a marked car with a cage. All the other field commanders were given the white unmarked cars, without cages, which is normal. The administration was sending out a message.

This year Capt Bobby Simmons got scorched as well. He was ordered to report to the "Report Center" at the substation in late May. The problem with that is, there is no longer a "Report Center", as it was closed down the first week of June. When I last spoke with Captain Simmons, last week, he was still reporting to the same office, but now the eight clerks that were there aren't. He is a Captain without a ship, so to speak. Captain Simmons reports to an office that has a desk and a chair, and him.


The "Report Center" has been the "whipping post" for ranking officers since Inspector Judy Hughes occupied it for the past year. Judy made the mistake of filing an EEOC complaint against the administration, then found herself no longer in charge of Fugitive, where she had a Captain, several Lieutenants, more Sergeants, and a few more Patrolmen under her command. She now had eight clerks.

Mark also told Mike Fleming that I am a liar. Well, we'll see about that. He is the one who has lied. While on the Mike Fleming show, he stated that he had never made the statement, "what authority do we have to make arrests in Bartlett?" Mike took it at face value, because, after all, he is the Sheriff. And, we know Sheriff's wouldn't lie, don't we. Well retired Lt Bubba Winkler, agrees with me, Mark Luttrell did make that statement and we were both in the room. Mark is definitely the liar. Listen to me interview Lt Winkler and you decide. Which of us has a reason to lie?

National Night Out

I'll be speaking to the Forest Drive Civic Club Tuesday evening as part of their recognition of "National Night Out"

The topic - Crime and Punishment, what else?

Officers who have assisted Ms. Kimberly Johnson in Her Quest for Numbers 1 and 200

I've received several emails from officers requesting their acknowledgement for assisting Ms. Johnson. Here is the list to date:

Brian White
Matthew Miller
Joseph Moore
Greg Tacker
Clint Buchanan

Surely, there are some Sheriff's Deputies who have arrested her. I guess they don't want to work the midnight shift though!

Well boys, after the election, let me know who you are and you'll get certificates like the rest of the guys!

Meritorious Service Award for Law Enforcement Officers

I received an email from MPD officer, Brian White, after Mike Fleming talked about this blog on his show yesterday. He claims that he and his partners are very familiar with our Grand Prize winner - Kimberly Johnson - due to having arrested her so many times. He felt they should receive some sort of award for having attempted to rehabilitate her on so many different occasions. I agreed and have emailed an award similar to the one I am posting here to Officer White and his partners, Matthew Miller and Joseph Moore. I also got a posting on this blog by officer Allen, where he said he had arrested Larry West on numerous occassions. If he will send me an email with his full name, he too shall be commended!

As law enforcement officers, we do our job and our part to help these people, but the prosecutors and judges fail them miserably. How can a person have been arrested 200 times? The prosecutor should be jumping up and down when he or she encounters a person who is constantly returning to the system. The judges should also be working to make sure these people aren't returning. I decided to raise this issue because I believe the repeat offender is our biggest problem. By shedding light on a subject that the DA and the judges probably don't want you to discuss, maybe we can effect some change. Behavior modification will work on them, just as it will work on criminals. Turn the heat up and watch them change behavior.

Click the image below to enlarge the award I presented to officer Brian White:

Find the Cost of Freedom

The top ten offenders in the Recidivism Sweepstakes have been arrested a total of 1,346 times. If the cost of each event was factored at $500.00 per, those ten people will have cost the taxpayers over $673,000.00. When do we, as taxpaying citizens, stand up and say ENOUGH! I'm reminded of the movie where the guy goes to the window and yells "I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Five years ago, the Memphis metro area didn't even appear on the most dangerous list. Today we sit at number three.

I have done all I know to do, to raise the awareness of the community to this problem. The leaders of our community are political opportunists, who have no vision, no passion and basically no concern. They are concerned about being re-elected and nothing else. The "Culture of Corruption" has allowed this to persist. People with extremely deep pockets choose the leaders from both parties and the criteria is not what it should be.

I don't know what will happen in this election, but I fear the worst. I don't see good candidates in the races that matter. The current Sheriff has never even made an arrest, didn't know as late as last year what authority he had to make arrests in Bartlett, and has said we don't have a big drug or gang problem in the county schools. His opponent has been accused of cutting tires, cutting deals and being closely allied with the city mayor. I am the only one who has a vision, a plan and a track record of accomplishment in law envorcement. However, if I win the race, it will make national news. For me to win will take divine intervention. Fortunately, my God is not dead!

The other leaders in law enforcement have only started to "ramp up" within the last few months. Where have they been? I'll tell you, playing golf, tennis or anything but taking care of business. You've heard of "No Deals." Listen to the words, but watch the deads. If there were a requirement for truth in advertising, it would be more accurately called, "Let's Make a Deal".

Similar to a question Ronald Reagan raised once upon a time, I ask, Are You Safer Today Than You Were Four Years Ago? The incumbents don't want you to know what the data says, because they have failed you miserably.

And Number 10 is . . .

Clifton Macon is a M/B, approximately 42 years old, rni# 37048. He entered a guilty plea in General Sessions Court Div 11 on 11/27/05 for the following two charges:

001 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS M A FOUND GUILTY, guilty plea
002 CRIMINAL TRESPASS M C FOUND GUILTY, guilty plea

He has been arrested 12 times this year. His most recent arrest was for possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication which occurred just four days ago. Guess what, he is not in jail! The case was handled nolle prosse which means no prosecution.



31 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
15 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
14 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
12 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
6 CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION
6 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
5 BURGLARY
3 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
3 SHOPLIFTING M
2 ASSAULT M
2 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
2 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
2 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
2 THEFT OF SERVICES $500 OR LESS
1 AGGRAVATED ROBBERY
1 ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 ASSAULT-OFFENSIVE CONTACT
1 BURGLARY - BUILDING
1 CARRYING PISTOL/DANGEROUS WEAPON
1 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
1 CRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY
1 EVADING ARREST
1 FORGERY
1 GRAND LARCENY
1 MOTION - MISC
1 OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC M
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
1 PROSTITUTION M
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500-$1000
1 VANDALISM $500 OR LESS

Number 9, Number 9, Number 9

Number 9 is Nancy Escobar. She is a F/H approximately 42 years of age, rni# 21545. She has been arrested a total of 124 times since 1983 with her most recent arrest occurring on 05/23/06 for PROSTITUTION NEAR CHURCH/SCHOOL. Lately she is working the area around Summer and Tillman. She is not currently in jail, as she was given a 100.00 bond and held to the state. The ball is in Mr. Gibbons court now. Any takers on what will happen to her? I'm saying nothing.

64 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
14 PROSTITUTION M
6 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
6 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
5 ASSIGNATION
5 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
4 PROSTITUTION
2 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
2 SOLICITING RIDES
1 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
1 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
1 FAILURE TO COMPLY W/ BAIL CONDITION
1 FAILURE TO RETURN RENTED PROPERTY
1 FRAUD USE CRE/DEB CARD $500 OR LESS
1 FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE W/O WARRANT
1 FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE WITH WARRANT
1 GRAND LARCENY
1 MANUF/DEL/SELL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
1 OPEN & NOTORIOUS PUBLIC LEWDNESS
1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
1 PROSTITUTION NEAR CHURCH/SCHOOL
1 REC/CON STOLEN PROP-OVER $200
1 RESISTING ARREST
1 SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MISDEMEANOR
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M"

Number 8 and the Mental Evaluation Defense

Number 8 is another fine upstanding citizen. He first appears on the radar in August of 1983 according to the Court Clerk's website. His latest arrest occured on June 29th, 2006 for unlawful possession of a weapon. According to the General Sessions website, he is currently undergoing a mental evaluation. Oh really?

Andre Elliott is a m/b, approximately 43 years of age, RNI# 36947

28 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
21 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
19 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
9 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
7 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
6 ASSAULT M
5 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M
4 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
3 CRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY
3 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
2 AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS
2 ROBBERY
2 UNLAWFUL POSS WEAPON
2 VANDALISM $500 OR LESS
1 AGG CRIM TRESPASS
1 ASSAULT & BATTERY
1 BURGLARY - BUILDING
1 CONVICTED FELON CARRYING A FIREARM
1 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
1 EVADING ARREST
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE M
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 PETIT LARCENY
1 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
1 REC/CON STOLEN PROP-OVER $200
1 SHOPLIFTING M
1 THEFT OF SERVICES $500 OR LESS"

And Number 7 is . . .

Number 7 is another "lady" by the name of Verna Newman. She is a f/b, approximately 39 years old, her RNI number is 42936. Ms. Newman has been arrested 132 times since 1983. She has racked up most of her arrests in the midtown area of Memphis (Cleveland and Poplar). She hasn't been on the radar since last October though, so she may have moved on. I didn't find her in the TN prison system, our jail, or listed in the SSDI death index.

36 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
13 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
13 PROSTITUTION M
12 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
11 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
10 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
5 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
4 DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUS/REV/CAN
3 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
3 VIOLATION OF VENEREAL DISEASES LAW
2 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
2 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
2 PROSTITUTION
2 VANDALISM $500 OR LESS
1 ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 ASSAULT-OFFENSIVE CONTACT
1 DISREGARDING RED LIGHT M
1 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
1 DOMESTIC ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 ESCAPE FROM MISD INCARCERATION
1 FORGERY
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE M
1 PEDESTRIAN WALKING UPON ROADWAY
1 POSS CONT SUB W/I TO MANUF/DEL/SELL
1 PROSTITUTION NEAR CHURCH/SCHOOL
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

100 Homicides - It's Time to Get Tough!

Memphis has lost 100 citizens since the first of the year due to homicides. Gangs and drugs are at the core of these murders. Aggressive law enforcement and a zero tolerance policy that runs around the clock are going to be needed to stop the killing. It appears the MPD has gotten the message, but the Sheriff is still clueless. He's talking about counseling the children, working with the churches, running "beer stings". (Beer stings are funded by the Governor's Highway Safety Office and have been shown to be ineffective, as in every time they go back to the same stores, they sell beer to minors)

Has anyone heard Mark Luttrell espouse any kind of plan to fight crime during the past four years? I have been there, been out in the streets, sometimes fighting for my life, and I haven't seen or heard a plan! Maybe I missed it. I do remember him cutting 25 officers from Fugitive, the city pulling out of the Metro Gang unit, and refusing to partner with him on a Metro Narcotics Unit. But, I still haven't heard of any comprehensive plan of attack.

I have been saying for the last year and a half that we need a zero tolerance policy that is funded by private donations. (That’s how New York City took their streets back) Looking at Mark's campaign disclosures I can see he has the contacts, he just needs to ask them to pony up, so we can cowboy up!

Here are the results of being clueless:

Correction - Once, Twice, 200 Times a Lady?

Sorry for missing this one, but my sources are still checking for grand prize winners. It appears that Larry West isn't even close at 155 arrests. The real winner of the Recidivism Sweepstakes is none other than Kimberly Johnson. She is a f/b rni# 68844.

She has been arrested 10 times this year and holds the record by a whopping 45 arrests! Yep - she has entered the doors of 201 Poplar or the Women's Jail East facility - 200 times!

81 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
77 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
11 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
8 ASSAULT M
6 ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
4 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
2 ASSAULT-OFFENSIVE CONTACT
2 VANDALISM $500 OR LESS
1 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
1 ASSAULT-THREAT BODILY HARM
1 DOMESTIC ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
1 GRAND LARCENY
1 OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC M
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 REC/CON STOLEN PROP-OVER $200
1 UNLAWFUL POSS WEAPON

Frequency Distribution of Repeat Offenders

Here is a distribution of the repeat offenders who have been arrested 10 or more times in Shelby County:

Number of Arrests
200 = 1
150 - 159 = 1
140 - 149 = 1
100 - 109 = 2
110 - 119 = 4
120 - 129 = 5
130 - 139 = 5
90 - 99 = 6
80 - 89 = 13
70 - 79 = 28
60 - 69 = 44
50 - 59 = 54
40 - 49 = 194
30 - 39 = 685
20 - 29 = 2800
10 - 19 = 13541


The total number is 17,383 individuals. That is more than the population of Millington, TN which had a population of 10433 according to the 2000 census.

I was discussing this issue today with a friend who happens to also be a Democrat and a retired Deputy. I said once a person hits that tenth arrest they should be given increased attention. He said no way, they should get three strikes and that's it. Well, I agree, but we have to be realistic. Considering the volume of people (over 15,000) who have been arrested 10 or more times, it would be very hard to deal with those below that. Either way, something needs to be done, and done soon.

Number Six

Number six is actually tied with number five at 133 arrests.

Cornelius Broady is a 61 year old, m/b rni# 46616. Mr. Broady was last arrested June 15, 2006 for disorderly conduct at 100 N. Main. He is really pushing for the grand prize.

57 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
18 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
11 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
9 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
8 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
7 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
6 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
5 SHOPLIFTING M
3 INDECENT EXPOSURE M
1 ASSAULT M
1 BURGLARY
1 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE
1 OPEN & NOTORIOUS PUBLIC LEWDNESS
1 STALKING
1 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
1 UNLAWFUL POSS WEAPON-PUBLIC PLACE
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

Number Four and Five

Number four hasn't been heard from since 1999, so she may be deceased or in prison somewhere or maybe after 137 arrests, she finally got it. Probably not. Anyway, since she has ceased vying for the award, she is hereby disqualified and we move on the the next contestant. Clarence Barber is still aggressively pursuing the prize, as he was last arrested in March of this year on McLemore after being sentenced last October for THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS. I guess he did his weekend sentence. While Mr Barber is only 48 years of age, he has amassed an impressive number of arrests - 133. Here's his portfolio:

Clarence Barber m/b rni#42884

42 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
31 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
17 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
13 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
10 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
4 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
2 ASSAULT M
2 MANUF/DEL/SELL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
2 SHOPLIFTING M
1 AGG CRIM TRESPASS
1 AGGRAVATED BURGLARY
1 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
1 CRIMINAL LITTERING
1 FAILURE TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
1 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

Number Three Most Arrests

Willie Hooker M/B RNI# 54005 139 Total Arrests


26 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
23 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
18 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
15 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
15 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
9 SHOPLIFTING M
8 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
3 ASSAULT & BATTERY
3 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
2 AGG CRIM TRESPASS
2 ASSAULT M
1 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
1 AGGRAVATED ROBBERY
1 BURGLARY III
1 CARRYING KNIFE BLADE OVER 4-INCH
1 CARRYING PISTOL/DANGEROUS WEAPON
1 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
1 MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED WEAPON
1 ROBBERY
1 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
1 UNLAWFUL POSS CONTROL SUBSTANCE
1 VANDALISM OVER $500
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

A New Number Two

Someone clued me in on one that I had somehow missed. She has bumped the previous holder of the number two spot of all time arrests. She is known by many names, but her rni number belongs to Carolyn Laury. Basically she is a prosititute, but her last arrest was for POSS COCAINE W/I MANUF/SELL/DEL. She has also had the assortment pack. Somehow the system has failed to rehabilitate her, or maybe she doesn't want to be rehabilitated. Either way her history is what it is. Her total number of arrests is 147. It's time the public stepped in and demanded these career criminals be dealt with. When does it stop? Where is the line in the sand?

Here are the gory details:

Carolyn Laury F/B RNI# 54005

No. Charge
40 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
22 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
12 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
9 PROSTITUTION M
6 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
5 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
4 DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUS/REV/CAN
4 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
4 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
4 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
3 PEDESTRIAN WALKING UPON ROADWAY
3 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
3 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
2 ASSAULT M
2 MANUF/DEL/SELL/COCAINE
2 NO DRIVER LICENSE
2 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
2 PROSTITUTION
2 ROBBERY
2 SHOPLIFTING M
1 AGGRAVATED ROBBERY
1 BURGLARY - MOTOR VEHICLE
1 CRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY
1 CRIMINAL LITTERING
1 DISREGARDING RED LIGHT C
1 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
1 EVADING ARREST
1 PATRONIZING PROSTITUTION
1 PETIT LARCENY
1 POSS CONT SUB W/I TO MANUF/DEL/SELL
1 PROSTITUTION C
1 VIOL OF SEAT BELT LAW OVER 18 YRS
1 VIOL VENEREAL DISEASE CONTROL LAW
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

Three Strikes and You Are Out - How About 155 Strikes and Still Swinging?

Larry West is the winner of the Shelby County Recidivism Sweepstakes, as far as I can tell. He has been arrested 153 times since January 29, 1983 in the General Sessions Courts and had two more cases in Criminal Court for Armed Robbery and felony theft. He probably has more charges that aren't on the computer, not to mention his juvenile record. I attended Kingsbury High School where he also sometimes showed up, so I know more about him than I would normally. Good old Kingsbury, we're leading the way once more!

Anyway, Larry has been arrested over 155 times since he started down the path he chose. Here are the number of times he was arrested and wound up in General Sessions Court:

37 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
30 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
28 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
15 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
6 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
6 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M
4 ASSAULT M
3 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
3 PETIT LARCENY
3 SHOPLIFTING M
3 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
2 REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO BAC TEST
1 AGG CRIM TRESPASS
1 ASSAULT & BATTERY
1 ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 ATTEMPT TO COMMIT FELONY
1 CRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY
1 EVADING ARREST
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE M
1 MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
1 RESISTING OFFICIAL DETENTION
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
1 THEFT OF SERVICES $500 OR LESS
1 ARMED ROBBERY

If you are interested in looking into some of these citizens you can take the RNI number and search for the case information on the General Sessions and Criminal Court Clerk's website. The link is here Just pick General Sessions, then scroll the listbox down on the left pane to Arrest by RNI. Click that and enter an RNI number in the space provided below and click go. The results will show in the rightmost frame.

*Note*
An RNI number is supposed to be a unique number that has been linked via fingerprints to the individual. Therefore, no matter what name a person comes to jail under, the AFIS computer and technicians will "link" that set of fingerprints to the individual.

Just for fun, here is a list of RNI numbers you might want to research. These people have all been arrested more than 100 times:

No RNI#
154 11417
139 10857
137 2521
133 42884
132 42936
126 36947
124 21545
122 37048
120 105046
120 14175
114 100718
112 38356
111 4361
110 11018
104 21209
104 40902

I believe we, in the Criminal Justice field, need to place a higher priority on these type offenders. The "interventions" that we are using are not having the intended effect. There is a group of over 15,000 people in the mid south who have been arrested 10 times or more. They account for over 250,000 arrests. The cost of dealing with that group is mind boggling. If we take a round figure of $100.00 per day and only allow for one day per arrest, which is way short of the actual number, the cost is 25 million dollars. Considering the police officers, vehicles, equipment, the jailers, the infrastructure,etc. The cost per arrest could be as hish as $500.00 per event. That would mean this group has cost the taxpayers over $125 Million.

I believe the correct way to deal with these people is to use a form of progressive punishment. When a person has been arrested 10 times or more, they have demonstrated they don't care about rules and regulations. I believe we need to implement some Psychology, in the form of Behavior Modification. I call it the "hot plate" approach to law enforcement. If the punishment intensifies with each arrest, at some point it will extinguish the negative behavior. The current system is not worried about changing behavior, or keeping the citizenry safe, they are worried about maintaining an empty jail.

A Crime Abatement Strategy That Will Work

Fighting crime is really applied Psychology. Behavior Modification 101. In order to change behavior we have two options: positive and negative reinforcement. Since we can't afford to pay people to be good, we are left with the negative. In order for the negative reinforcement to be effective it must be swift, certain and severe enough to extinquish the behavior. Consider that one time you burned your hand on a hot stove; swift, certain and severe. The negative reward was also introduced almost instantaneously. Therein lies much of the problem with the CJ system. The punishment, if it ever comes, isn't even remotely associated with the act.

Since roughly 1 percent of the population commits 99% of the crime and about 1% of that 1% commit the serious crimes or are habitual, I believe we should concentrate on those offenders. I am putting information together right now that details frequent offenders. I want to know what person has been arrested the highest number of times? Care to take a guess at the number? I think I've already got the guy, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone else takes the prize.

I believe if a person has been arrested 10 times or more, he or she needs special attention. It is rather obvious that whatever the system has been doing is failing. Drug dealers should also get special attention, but not at the expense of the other career criminals. They are all a blight on society.

I have come up with a program that I call Adopt-A-Cellblock. In this program all the area churches would form a group then assign cellblocks to "adopt". Those people would minister to the inmates in that cellblock by going into the family situation to see what their needs are. This goes beyond carrying a toothbrush to the jail and reading some scripture. It takes a little more work, but I believe the dividends could be huge.

I would also bring the business community into this and let them be a part of adopting these cellblocks. They could help teach people to read, so they are at least employable. They could also work with these inmates to try to put them into jobs.

The alternative is to continue to spin the cycle, only faster and faster.

AraMARK and the missing Tax Dollars

It seems the current Sheriff and county mayor are in cahoots to deprive the county taxpayers of millions of dollars. Check out the webpage that gives details. Also, I'm getting bombarded with emails about things that have been going on between AraMARK and Aramark. There will be more to follow on this in the next few days.
Here's the link to the information.