Harvard University
Professor of Criminal Justice at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government
PROFILE
Christopher Stone
Guest
FROM Christopher Stone
Which Way, L.A.?
Has the Federal Consent Decree Improved the LAPD? After the Rodney King beating in 1991 and the Rampart corruption scandal of 1999, the federal Department of Justice threatened to sue the Los Angeles Police Department over a pattern and practice of misconduct. The compromise was a “ consent decree ,” which gave a federal court the authority to monitor reforms. Chief Bill Bratton would like that to come to an end.
To the Point
Violent Crime on the Rise, Federal Assistance on the Decline After the cocaine wars of the 1990's, violent crime declined dramatically in most of America, but it's on the rise once again--especially crime that involves guns. At the same time, federal money that once went to fight crime is being channeled into homeland security , which has a different set of priorities. Late last month, local elected officials and chiefs of police aired their concerns about that trade-off at the National Violent Crime Summit. Whatever happened to former President Clinton's program for putting 100,000 new officers on the streets? Why is Congress making it harder to trace guns used in crimes by kids as young as 13? We hear what civic leaders and law enforcement leaders are asking the federal Department of Justice .
Recommended
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?