Author Archives: Barry Voss

Tainted Justice: West Memphis Three Freed From 18 Years in Prison Having Proved Their Innocence. Or Did They?

In 1993 Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelly and Jason Baldwin were convicted of first- degree murder in the gruesome, and allegedly satanic,  killings of Steven Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, three 8 year old cub scouts whose bodies were dumped in Robin … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Felons, Law, Public Relations | Tagged , , | 79 Comments

Have Gun, Will Travel…Fast and Furious to Mexico. Thanks ATF!

Question: How do convicted felons repeatedly possess and distribute numerous guns without fear of arrest, let alone prosecution? Answer: By purchasing guns from “straw purchasers,” who purchased the guns from gun dealers cooperating with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,  Firearms and Explosives (ATF)- … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Felons, Law | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Little Wails Lost in a Sea of Rage: Why Can’t We Protect Our Children?

On July 13, 2011, young Leiby Kletzky was returning from day camp, walking through Borough Park in Brooklyn, one of the safest neighborhoods in New York. The eight- year old was navigating through the streets, having been given permission by his parents … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Law, Youth | Tagged | 46 Comments

Little Caylee, Little Justice!

What went wrong? Or did it? While I discuss this travesty, reflect on why I believe our Courts of Justice are more appropriately characterized as Conflict Resolution Centers. The travesty I refer to is not that Casey Anthony was acquitted. … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Law, Public Relations | Tagged , | 150 Comments

Do you wanna buy meth, crack along with a slurpee at 7-11?

You may be able to purchase meth, marijuana and cocaine along with your favorite beverage at 7-11, if the Global Commission on Drug Policy has its way. The Commission’s report, recently  released,  advocates ending the “criminalization, marginalization and stigmatization of … Continue reading

Posted in Addiction, Crime, Law, Youth | Tagged , | 147 Comments

Mn. Legislature’s Proposed Dept. of Corrections’ Budget Cut Delivers One-Two Punch To Chemically Dependent Inmates

Minnesota prisons are not Party City, nor should they be. Instead, inmates are-first and foremost-imprisoned for retribution, then rehabilitation. Unfortunately, the education emphasized is the prison-style Three R’s(Respect, Reputation and Revenge). So, when an authentic, effective drug treatment program is operating within … Continue reading

Posted in Addiction, Crime, Felons, Law | Tagged , , | 305 Comments

Draconian Prison Sentences Smack Up Against Economic Reality

The announcement of the May 24, 2011, 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision mandating that  the California Dept. of Corrections  reduce its bloated inmate population by 33,000 from approximately 144,000 is a long time coming, and directly results from the state’s short-sighted, … Continue reading

Posted in Addiction, Crime, Felons, Law | Tagged | 171 Comments

Transparency in Employment-How Much?

Mpls. Star and Tribune Reporter Dan Browning captured my attention with his May 9, 2011, article  titled  ”Ex-cons make a killing selling coins”. Apparently, the theme of his article is that the precious metals investment industry is rife with unsavory characters … Continue reading

Posted in Felons, Law | Tagged | 129 Comments

Economics Trumps Retribution in Minnesota Prisons

In an Opinion piece contained in the May 19, 2011, Minneapolis Star and Tribune, Hennepin(Minneapolis) County Sheriff Rich Stanek co-authored an article advocating that tough budget times dictate that we consider releasing non-violent offenders from prison and, instead, use some … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Felons, Law | Tagged | 156 Comments

What Price Innocence for Ex-IMF Dominque Strauss-Kahn?

The focus and visibility brought to bear on the criminal justice system with the charging of Dominque Strauss- Kahn highlights two recurring, but troubling, issues that seem to be part and partial of our justice system. The first is the ubiquitous perpetrator … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Law | Tagged | 109 Comments