In the process of writing my follow-up memoir to Cleft Heart, I've rediscovered the impact white privilege has on the crim justice system. Such privilege has become painfully clear in the four murders that struck amazingly close to home for me in my 30's. Some of the whites involved in these murders were supersmart, too, and got added privileges like superatheletes often do. And all were male, too. So,let me start this blog with a parallel between male and white privilege. How male … [Read more...]
Rape, male privilege, sentencing, and punishment.
An essay about rape and male privilege that's been widely circulated lately got my attention for sure. Not because so many women have been Weinsteined by Harvey who had gatekeeping power or raped by everyday men who were intimidating. But because I've been addressing similar issues in a book I'm writing. Several of the real-life murderers in my memoir got away easy just as Amber Rose Carlson's rapist did. Amber Rose Carlson is a doctoral candidate in philosophy at Vanderbilt University who … [Read more...]
Will OJ get parole tomorrow? Where and how to watch his hearing.
I mentioned in a prior blog that the ALCATRAZ EAST crime museum just opened an exhibit around a new acquisition. The item is the White Ford Bronco that carried a frantic and suicidal O.J. Simpson during one of the most famous televised car chases ever. For this reason alone, millions will be tuned in tomorrow to O.J.'s parole hearing. But, as you know, there are many other reasons to tune in. I'm going to watch because, tho I'm a dispassionate criminologist regarding most topics, I have a … [Read more...]
Crime Museum: Down but not out with addition of OJ’s Bronco..
Just had a wonderful trip to Tennessee, but missed the Crime Museum there. I saw the Grand Ole Opry the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Jack Daniels Distillery—all in the Nashville area. Alas, I didn't make it across the state to Alcatraz East in Pigeon Forge where the renamed Crime Museum relocated recently. Crime Museum The founder of the museum, attorney John Morgan , formerly operated it as the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in Washington, DC. He figured DC was where laws … [Read more...]
Brock Turner, Oscar Pistorius: how white privilege works.
I sometimes examine white privilege in my crim justice writings, and I'm doing so in a memoir I'm currently working on. What's interesting about Brock Turner, Oscar Pistorius is that they may've been given light sentences because they were white and outstanding athletes. They are athletes in cultures (America and South Africa) where athleticism is prized. In such cultures super athletes, for sure, are treated leniently by their justice systems because of it. I've written about Pistorius … [Read more...]
Crim Justice takes a hit with regard to older celebs.
What happens when crim justice, lookism, and celebrity meet face to face? Lady Justice peaks from under her blindfold and renders "modified" justice. Some would call it "in" justice. Crim justice takes a hit. We've explored attractiveness and sentencing in recent posts. Recently we looked at younger troubled stars. Here are a couple of examples of older troubled stars. That is, attractive people who've used their celebrity and wealth to game the justice system. The crim justice system pretty … [Read more...]
Prison life is hard. Outside can be harder. CSP revisited.
Prison life gone bad? I've known, and been a victim of, someone who has reoffended (relapsed, recidivised. Recidivism refers to committing a crime after being "rehabilitated" in prison and released. When it comes to prison life, recidivism is a big "No No." It is to everyday taxpayers, to new and old victims, to ideologues supporting prison reform, and to criminologists like me who study this sort of thing. Recidivism is a sign of corrections failing to "correct," a sign that … [Read more...]