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Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied

For months, the Philadelphia criminal justice system has been undergoing a major overhaul. Read the four-part Inquirer investigative series that sparked the reforms - and all the follow-up developments.
Part 1
Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied
With Philadelphia's court system in disarray, cases crumble as witnesses fear reprisal and thousands of fugitives remain at large.
By Craig R. McCoy, Nancy Phillips, and Dylan Purcell, Inquirer Staff Writers
Kareem Johnson stood over Walter Smith and executed him. He fired so close that Smith's blood splashed up onto Johnson's Air Jordan baseball cap.
Tangled trail of collapsed cases and shattered lives
Part 2
Witnesses fear reprisals, and cases crumble
Intimidation on the streets is changing the way trials are run. "People are frightened to death," the D.A. says.
By Nancy Phillips, Craig R. McCoy, and Dylan Purcell, Inquirer Staff Writers
Witness intimidation pervades the Philadelphia criminal courts, increasingly extracting a heavy toll in no-show witnesses, recanted testimony and collapsed cases.
Busy lawyers. Balky victims. Botched logistics.
Part 3
Violent Criminals Flout Broken Bail System
Tens of thousands of Philadelphia fugitives are on the streets, abetted by the city's deeply flawed program.
By Dylan Purcell, Craig R. McCoy, and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
The robber had a gun in his hand and a smirk on his face. "Y'all gonna make me kill you," he said. "Where's the safe?"
Fugitive trackers say their job is like "emptying the ocean with a spoon"
Part 4
Gun Arrests Galore, No Convictions At All
Arrest: Nov. 27, 2005Age: 19Charge: Possession with intent to deliverDisposition: Convicted
By John Sullivan, Emilie Lounsberry, and Dylan Purcell, Inquirer Staff Writers
Just 23 years old, John Gassew has been arrested 44 times, mostly on charges of sticking a gun in people's faces and robbing them.
 
After 44 arrests, man finally gets 32 years
 
It's different in federal court
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Since this series ran
A system under scrutiny - and reform
John Gassew was convicted by a jury.
After 44 arrests, man finally gets 32 years
By Nathan Gorenstein, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted 02/02/2012
A Philly man who avoided conviction for armed robbery and other crimes will now serve time in federal prison.
 
In Phila. courts, new reforms - 07/31/2011
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Court's crackdown on fugitives - 05/06/2012
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
Frightened witnesses
Philadelphia getting an additional $230,000 from state for witness relocation
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
Posted 07/02/2010
After years of decline, the amount of money set aside to relocate frightened witnesses in Philadelphia is about to surge to a record level.
 
City commits $200,000 to fight witness intimidation - 06/18/2010
By Miriam Hill and Jeff Shields, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Phila. cracking down on witness intimidation - 06/13/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
Fugitives from Court
Try fugitives, use indicting grand juries, expert urges
By Craig R. McCoy
Posted 04/24/2012
Philadelphia should cap off its overhaul of its court system by creating indicting grand juries and trying fugitive defendants in absentia, a veteran former prosecutor said Monday. In a double-barreled presentation to a state Senate advisory panel, Walter M. Phillips Jr. said the moves would crack down on witness intimidation and send a strong signal encouraging defendants to show up for court.
 
Should Philly allow private bail bonders? - 01/24/2012
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Philly court no-shows need consequences, reports urge - 08/01/2011
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
A SYSTEM UNDER SCRUTINY - AND REFORM
 
Employees owe $1M in fines, fees - 03/02/2011
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Defender group shut out of courts overhaul - 03/01/2011
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Philadelphia courts go after deadbeats starting Monday - 02/23/2011
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Gun court judge rebuffed - 01/20/2011
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Gun cases tossed, suspects walk - 12/19/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
In Search of Justice - 12/05/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Philly launches aggressive push to collect court debts - 01/04/2011
By Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Escaping Justice, Part 2 | Victim restitution lags badly in Phila. - 11/21/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
City lags in victims' aid collections - 11/21/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Escaping Justice, Part 1 | 19,400 fugitives given clean slate - 11/12/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Nancy Phillips, and Dylan Purcell, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS
 
D.A. admits mistakes in case purge - 11/20/2010
By Nancy Phillips, Craig R. McCoy, and Dylan Purcell, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
First day of Philadelphia zone courts goes smoothly - 11/02/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Zone system a dramatic shake-up for Philadelphia courts - 10/31/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Philadelphia set for 'zone courts' to start - 10/29/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Unclogging Philly's courts - 10/17/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Philadelphia abolishes Clerk of Quarter Sessions Office - 10/13/2010
By Marcia Gelbart, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
D.A. wants 'zone courts' for Phila. - 05/30/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Nancy Phillips, and Dylan Purcell, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
D.A.'s new approach to conviction data - 05/23/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Abraham slams pot let-up - 05/04/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Marijuana leniency begins - 06/08/2010
By Peter Mucha, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Castille relents, paving way for inquiry on courts - 05/27/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Pa. senators want city court probe - 05/13/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Abraham defends work, criticizes city justice system - 05/04/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Nutter moves to abolish Clerk of Quarter Sessions office - 04/28/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Task force urged to probe Philadelphia courts - 04/20/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
New rules will govern city courts - 04/04/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Phila. to ease pot penalty - 04/05/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Nancy Phillips, and Dylan Purcell, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Pa. Supreme Court expands judicial-review panel - 03/23/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Controversial Vivian Miller will step down - 03/09/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Pa. high court names panel to probe Phila. courts - 03/09/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS
 
Suburbs may offer answer for city courts - 03/07/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
His focus: Fixing city courts - 01/24/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Feds charge man who beat 44 arrests - 01/09/2010
By John Sullivan, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Pa. to review Phila. court system - 01/06/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS
 
Judge to lawyers: Work faster - 12/28/2009
By Nancy Phillips and John Sullivan, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Next D.A. wants to shake up system - 12/27/2009
By Craig R. McCoy and Troy Graham , INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS
Frightened witnesses
 
Indicting grand juries for Philadelphia urged - 06/12/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Specter introduces bill on witness intimidation - 02/24/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Specter: Threatening witness should be federal crime - 01/09/2010
By Nancy Phillips, Craig R. McCoy, and Troy Graham, Inquirer Staff Writers
Fugitives from Court
 
Philadelphia D.A. seeks changes to fight fugitives - 12/05/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Private bail industry says it could help Philadelphia’s ailing system - 08/09/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS
 
City cracking down to get money owed by bail jumpers - 06/29/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Philly launching drive to collect $1 billion in bail debt - 06/26/2010
By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer
 
Phila. fugitive squad to get more marshals - 05/05/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Specter seeks federal help to catch fugitives - 03/17/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
U.S. Marshals offer Phila. help with fugitives - 02/26/2010
By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Phila. D.A. says bail system is "broken" - 01/20/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
 
Specter calls hearing on Phila. bail system - 01/14/2010
By Nancy Phillips and Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writers
Editorials/Op-ed pieces
 
Bounty hunters aren't the solution - 04/22/2012
Inquirer Editorial
 
Bail jumpers get free pass - 11/22/2010
 
Philadelphia DA seeks better implementation of fugitive policy - 11/21/2010
 
Article belies official take on cleared Phila. warrants - 11/18/2010
By Daniel Rubin, Inquirer Columnist
 
DN Editorial: When justice gets lost: Wholesale dismissal of cases may be right - but was handled poorly - 11/17/2010
 
Victims of unclogging the justice system's arteries - 11/16/2010
 
City crisis is a job for bail agents - 09/15/2010
By Dennis A. Bartlett
 
It's time to bail out our court system - 01/21/2010
 
Say What?: Criminal justice system needs emergency action - 12/17/2009
By Inquirer Editorial Board
 
Say What?: City's criminal justice system is broken - 12/14/2009
By Inquirer Editorial Board
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