Report Crime News? Yea or Nay?

We constantly see criticism of reporting crime news. "It's bullying." Really? "It makes the criminal's family sad." Yes, we can imagine. "It doesn't deter crime." Perhaps not, but it does tell you whom to avoid and just who is costing you money while you support him or her in jail.

In short, just because the TimesDaily hasn't published a Crime Blotter section in 12 months, that doesn't mean other news outlets won't report on what little Johnny did to his teacher...and her dog. This week we saw the Quad-Cities Daily and Pen-N-Sword draw criticism from a certain family who is just so outraged that anyone would report on their son, brother, father. News flash: If this man didn't shy away from publicity when it was good, why should he expect to be exempt from it when it's bad? Crime is crime. Commit a crime and you're a criminal. That's not too deep to fathom, is it?

On the subject of crime, Alabamians for Justice Reform has prepared a report on how this state can be cleaned up justice wise. Much, perhaps most, we don't agree with. What we do agree with is the statement that there are entirely too many capital enhancements to the charge of murder. The number now stands at 20. Here's the list:

(1) Murder by the defendant during a kidnapping in the first degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

(2) Murder by the defendant during a robbery in the first degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

(3) Murder by the defendant during a rape in the first or second degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant;  or murder by the defendant during sodomy in the first or second degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

(4) Murder by the defendant during a burglary in the first or second degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

(5) Murder of any police officer, sheriff, deputy, state trooper, federal law enforcement officer, or any other state or federal peace officer of any kind, or prison or jail guard, while such officer or guard is on duty, regardless of whether the defendant knew or should have known the victim was an officer or guard on duty, or because of some official or job-related act or performance of such officer or guard.

(6) Murder committed while the defendant is under sentence of life imprisonment.

(7) Murder done for a pecuniary or other valuable consideration or pursuant to a contract or for hire.

(8) Murder by the defendant during sexual abuse in the first or second degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

(9) Murder by the defendant during arson in the first or second degree committed by the defendant;  or murder by the defendant by means of explosives or explosion.

(10) Murder wherein two or more persons are murdered by the defendant by one act or pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct.

(11) Murder by the defendant when the victim is a state or federal public official or former public official and the murder stems from or is caused by or is related to his official position, act, or capacity.

(12) Murder by the defendant during the act of unlawfully assuming control of any aircraft by use of threats or force with intent to obtain any valuable consideration for the release of said aircraft or any passenger or crewmen thereon or to direct the route or movement of said aircraft, or otherwise exert control over said aircraft.

(13) Murder by a defendant who has been convicted of any other murder in the 20 years preceding the crime;  provided that the murder which constitutes the capital crime shall be murder as defined in subsection (b) of this section;  and provided further that the prior murder conviction referred to shall include murder in any degree as defined at the time and place of the prior conviction.

(14) Murder when the victim is subpoenaed, or has been subpoenaed, to testify, or the victim had testified, in any preliminary hearing, grand jury proceeding, criminal trial or criminal proceeding of whatever nature, or civil trial or civil proceeding of whatever nature, in any municipal, state, or federal court, when the murder stems from, is caused by, or is related to the capacity or role of the victim as a witness.

(15) Murder when the victim is less than fourteen years of age.

(16) Murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon fired or otherwise used from outside a dwelling while the victim is in a dwelling.

(17) Murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon while the victim is in a vehicle.

(18) Murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon fired or otherwise used within or from a vehicle.

(19) Murder by the defendant where a court had issued a protective order for the victim, against the defendant, pursuant to Section 30-5-1 et seq. , or the protective order was issued as a condition of the defendant's pretrial release.

(20) Murder by the defendant in the presence of a child under the age of 14 years at the time of the offense, if the victim was the parent or legal guardian of the child.  For purposes of this subsection, “in the presence of a child” means in the physical presence of a child or having knowledge that a child is present and may see or hear the act.

Perhaps we could also add Murder While Consuming Oxygen?

Now There's A Crime That Demands Stronger Punishment