SpotCrime Weekly Reads: gun violence, murder rate increases, police reform

Domestic violence increase linked to rise in violent crime, rising gun violence across US, body cams used for surveillance, banning facial recognition on the table, ethical AI, geofencing warrants may violate 4th amendment, rethinking 911, and more...

POLICE CONDUCT

Protests focus on over-policing. But under-policing is also deadly. (WaPo)

The “Camden Model” Is Not a Model. It’s an Obstacle to Real Change. (Jacobin Mag)

How Police Protect ‘White Spaces’ and Foster Segregated Housing (TheCrimeReport.org)

Military Presence Escalates Tension Among Public, Georgia State Criminologist Warns (WABE)

For meaningful reform, New York needs to catch up on crime data (Washington Examiner)

Dan Fagan: Bad police officers are a problem. But rising Louisiana crime is too. (The Advocate)

We Know How to Fix the Police. The data proves that regulating police behavior results in fewer killings of civilians. (Reasonstobecheerful.com)

Amazon Partnerships with Local Law Enforcement Raise Racial Bias, Privacy Concerns (TechWire) see also: Amazon’s Ring Enables the Over-Policing Efforts of Some of America’s Deadliest Law Enforcement Agencies (EFF)

With shroud lifted, FOIL remains default for accessing police disciplinary records (Daily Gazette)

Rethinking 911: New California efforts seek to shift mental-health calls away from police (Desert Sun) see also: This town of 170,000 replaced some cops with medics and mental health workers. It's worked for over 30 years (CNN) and also: Activists Propose Ideas To Redirect Funds From The Dallas Police Into Social Services (KERA)

CRIME RATE

It’s Been ‘Such a Weird Year.’ That’s Also Reflected in Crime Statistics. (NY Times)

Daily Bulletin: Analysis Shows Murders Up Nearly 22% in Large Cities (The Trace) see also: With murder up 21%, D.C. mayor warns of negative outcomes to slashing police budget (WJLA) and also: Kansas City mayor calls on governor for special session to address violent crime  (The Missouri Times)

Gun violence spikes in Atlanta amid debate over police use of force (AJC) and also: The right time to defund cops? NYC gun crime hitting new heights as city culls police budget by $1bn (RT.com) and finally: Accurately tracking Philly’s gun violence epidemic depends on one guy named Gary The city’s crime data recording system is “a rustic operation,” per the PPD. (BillyPenn.com)

Domestic Violence Eyed as Factor in This Year’s Murder Toll (TheCrimeReport.org) see also: Project DOVE sees uptick in calls for domestic violence services (Malheur Enterprise) and also: As domestic abuse rising, UK Failings leave victims in peril. (NYTimes)

Opinion: How to make Memphis safer from gun violence (Daily Memphian)

CRIM-TECH

Police Body Cam Footage Is Being Used For Surveillance, Activists Say (NPR)

City Council considers ordinance to ban facial recognition and create a public review and approval process for surveillance technology (The Lens) UK and Australia open joint data-privacy investigation into Clearview AI The facial recognition company is being scrutinized over its database of 3 billion photos. (CNET)

Blueleaks: How the FBI tracks Bitcoin laundering on the dark web (Decrypt)

Geofence warrants to be tested in Virginia bank robbery case (AP) see also: EFF Files Amicus Brief Arguing Geofence Warrants Violate the Fourth Amendment (EFF)

Ethics in the Balance: AI’s Implications for Government (GovTech) see also: How AI can empower communities and strengthen democracy (VentureBeat)

POLICE TRANSPARENCY

A Plan to Make Police Data Open Source Started on Reddit (Wired) see also: Open Data Stakeholders: Researchers (Academia.edu) and also: Free public data: The lifeblood of press freedom (Poynter) 

Judge affirms ruling in case against Knox County sheriff, information emerges about withheld records (TCOG)

Book explores privacy vs. tell-all crime reporting (Western News)

PRISON REFORM

Why Is Punishment the Favored Path to Public Safety? (Governing)

The False Choice Between ‘Progressive’ and ‘Old-Fashioned’ Prosecutors (TheCrimeReport.org)

Forced to have sex in exchange for toilet paper: Ex-inmates detail abuse by guards in N.J. women’s prison (NJ.com)

How COVID-19 in jails and prisons threatens nearby communities (Herald & Review)

Bail reform rollback takes effect (North Country Public Radio)

DUMB CRIMINAL OF THE WEEK

Oregon man driving stolen car crashes into woman driving another stolen car (NY Post)

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