Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied: Part 4

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Feb 15, 11:36 PM | Traffic

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A system under scrutiny - and reform

Employees owe $1M in fines, fees

By Craig R. McCoy, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted 03/02/2011

The city is threatening to garnish pay of 622 city employees who have forfeited bail in criminal cases, owe court fees, or must pay restitution to crime victims.

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

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: Phila., state, and federal leaders are working to overcome "stop snitching" threats. The District Attorney's Office has issued directives for police.

By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, Inquirer Staff Writers

Fugitives from Court

Private bail industry says it could help Philadelphia’s ailing system

By Craig R. McCoy and Nancy Phillips, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

Posted 08/09/2010

Despite "stereotypes" of shady bail bondsmen and unshaven bounty hunters on TV, executives in the private bail industry said Monday that they could put an end to Philadelphia's fugitive crisis.

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

STORY: A remedy for the "bring-down problem"
STORY: ‘We’re there to do justice’ says District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham
TRANSCRIPT: "I don't do justice by numbers" Excerpts from an interview with DA Abraham
STORY: Police struggle with court schedules

What the bloggers are saying
City's criminal justice system is broken

Text only version of Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied

Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied: With Philadelphia's court system in disarray, cases crumble as witnesses fear reprisal and thousands of fugitives remain at large.
Tangled trail of collapsed cases and shattered lives: After repeated arrests, Omar Cash did little time. Now he’s charged with murder.

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.
Busy lawyers. Balky victims. Botched logistics.: Getting a case to court can be a trial in itself

Violent Criminals Flout Broken Bail System: Tens of thousands of Philadelphia fugitives are on the streets, abetted by the city's deeply flawed program.
Fugitive trackers say their job is like "emptying the ocean with a spoon": The law's in their favor, but the numbers aren't

Gun Arrests Galore, No Convictions At All
It's different in federal court: Sentences are longer. Rules are tougher. Convictions are commonplace.

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