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JUNE 2007 - INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Scam of the Month Law Enforcement Profile What If...? Due Process Getting clipped Stratford Police Chief How something you see could What can we learn from Paris by coupon fraud. is homeland security expert. help prevent a major crime. Hilton about sentence appeals? Page 2 Page 12 Page 16 Page 18 ® June 2007 FIGHTING CRIME IN CONNECTICUT ISSUE 1, VOL. 5 Enforcement Team Puts Pressure on Bridgeport Crime By CINDY SIMONEAU by side with the police to monitor the Correspondent activities of parolees. While it is the parole violators and It was a rainy, quiet night on Stratford criminals the group is targeting, the most Avenue in Bridgeport, and the Police important part of their mission is to clean Department’s newly formed Neighbor- up the streets for the neighborhood resi- hood Enforcement Team (NET) was tak- dents. ing a parole officer on his first ride-along. “We connect the public to the police at Warned to be prepared for anything, the a very personal level,” said Sgt.Grech, dur- officers suddenly found bullets flying over ing an interview in the State Street their heads. The shots, not aimed at any- precinct office. “Every officer is getting one, were a sort of acknowledgment from calls from the public. We know to make the streets that “they” knew the new squad this work we need to sell it to the public. was on their turf. We hope to heighten awareness about our “We said to be prepared for anything activities.” and everything,” explained the unit’s com- Earlier this year, Bridgeport Police manding officer, Sgt. Paul Grech. “After Chief Brian Norwood established the only a short time they know we’re out Neighborhood Enforcement Team with Members of the newly formed Neighborhood Enforcement Team of the there, although they don’t always know six officers from various divisions and Sgt. Bridgeport Police Department hit the streets as a group to crack down on crime. which neighborhood we’ll be in.” Grech. Two officers were later added. So (Left to right) Sgt. Paul Grech, Officers Everton Walker, William Simpson, Parole Officer Edgar Nunez, who rides far, neighborhood efforts have focused on Adam Roscoe, Jeff Long, Arthur Calvao, and Jesse Pizarro. Missing from photo along with the unit one night a week, said Stratford and Connecticut avenues and are Officers Ron Jersey and Sandy Gonzalez. (Photo by Cindy Simoneau) despite the gunfire on his first ride-along, the Hollow section of the city. he thinks the NET has the upper hand While a sign of success may be the launched by NET. Among them, Sgt. titution. when it comes to enforcement issues. This opening of better communication lines Grech describes arrests for weapons, Sgt. Grech noted they have already had is the first time the Corrections Depart- with the public, it is also evident in the armed robbery, rape, drugs, as well as over 40 arrests on warrants, 65 felony ment has had a parole officer working side many arrests and enforcement efforts liquor violations, gang activities, and pros- (Continued on page 19) Prison Population Stabilized by ‘Justice Reinvestment’ By TEALE CALIENDO 1.7 million by 2011, an increase of more than 192,000. and the number of prisoners has actually leveled off. Last Correspondent However, the inmate population in Connecticut, summer’s increase was attributed to a spate of inner-city Delaware, and New York is expected to remain stable, so shootings by young people. “(Police) rounded up Connecticut’s decision in 2002 to tackle the problem of long as the state continues its justice reinvestment strate- kids…and held them on bail to calm things down,” he prison overcrowding with a strategy known as “justice gy. explained. reinvestment” is being credited with stabilizing the state’s Although Connecticut experienced a 2.5 percent Overcrowding is still an issue the state faces, but Con- prison population. increase in the population last year, State Representative necticut Department of Correction External Affairs That’s the assessment of Pew Charitable Trusts, a non- Michael Lawlor (D-East Haven), chair of the House Judi- Director Brian Garnett said the department is on the right profit, nonpartisan research organization, and the Con- ciary Committee since 1995, said crime generally is down, track when it comes to stabilizing the prison population. necticut Statistical Analysis Center at Central Connecti- “(Prisons) are crowded, yes. However, it is substantially cut State University (CCSU). reduced from what it has been. We are successfully man- Justice reinvestment is a comprehensive initiative that Facts at a Glance aging our population so we don’t have a sizeable amount of ensures various public- safety stakeholders (departments Most Frequent Offenses: crowding,” Garnett explained. of prison, parole, mental health, addiction services, com- Violation of Probation: 8% Connecticut’s prison population, including inmates munity-based services, etc.) are on the same page when it Possession of Narcotics: 7.5% awaiting trial, was 18,928 in May 2007—about 600 below comes to creating policies to control the prison population. Youthful Offender: 4.7% the population spike of 19,589 in 2003. Garnett explained, Between 1995 and 2002, Connecticut’s prison popula- “(Then) things were much worse. We had (several hun- tion rose by 35 percent—exceeding the national average of Substance Abuse: dred inmates) sleeping in nontraditional housing areas, 23 percent. Connecticut has gone from having one of the Population Reporting cots in gyms and office spaces. Today, we may have one fastest-growing inmate populations in the nation to one of Substance use/abuse: 88% facility with people housed in a gym.” only three states with no projected increase in the near Receiving Treatment: 26% The state’s success in lowering the number of prisoners future. In addition, as a result of the initiative, the number Education: is attributable to the investment it has made in the com- of inmates in this state dropped by 4 percent from 2003 to munities where most prisoners will return, mainly larger 2006. No High School Diploma: 75% cities such as Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford. Nationally, the prison population is expected to rise to Source: Connecticut Department of Correction (Continued on page 17) PAGE 2 THE JUSTICE JOURNAL JUNE 2007 By GRANT STINCHFIELD SCAM of the Month Correspondent Don’t Get Clipped by Coupon Caper Coupons are big business. Manufac- ✁ turers distribute nearly 330 billion coupons each year. The goal is to get people to buy products by saving them HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON money – but for some unsuspecting consumers, coupons can be costly. Some of those “cents-off ” coupons AVOIDING A COUPON SCAM: are providing big bucks for scam artists • Don’t believe guarantees of big profits in a short time. • Research the company with the FTC,Connecticut Dept.of offering numerous “work at home” • Watch out for claims of no risk involved. Consumer Protection, and/or the Better Business Bureau. schemes designed to exploit the coupon • Don’t be fooled by the “Can’t miss opportunity”pitch. • Most of all, find out all costs and fees associated with the market. The Federal Trade Commis- coupons, and then do the math. sion is issuing a warning that it is usual- • Don’t succumb to the high-pressure tactics of “act now.” ly the consumer who is exploited by the • Get all promises in writing. • If you do fall victim,you can file a complaint with the FTC bogus opportunity. “There is only one • Watch out for hefty postage and processing fees. by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. way to use a coupon – cut it out of the paper and use it towards your purchase,” explains W. David Griggs, an FTC lives in a one-bedroom Stratford apart- dreds using them. about a dollar a day!” He said the com- attorney. He says fraudulent promoters ment and struggles to make the rent “It turned out to be a huge scam,” pany voided most of his coupons are using the Internet to market the so- each month. “I wanted to find a way to said McEvoy. She said it took weeks because they had an expiration date on called “coupon clipping” opportunities. stay home with my 2-year-old, but still before the company actually sent her them. Nederman said he had no idea Scam artists promise their victims make enough money to live on,” the booklets. Then, making matters many manufacturers prohibit transfer- thousands of dollars a month simply by McEvoy said with regret. She paid worse, in order to redeem the coupons ring coupons, so he was not paid for selling coupon certificate booklets or $2,500 to act as a “coupon certificate the buyer had to fill out a form, select those, either. clipping coupons at home. Griggs booklet distributor.” The deal sounded dozens of products to buy, and then “Consumers should be on guard warns, “This has become a huge con- like a no-lose situation. She was sup- include a processing fee. “Nobody against this scam,” warns Connecticut cern for the FTC, and it is a priority posed to sell the booklets to consumers wanted to get involved – they all said it Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. that we go after fraudulent coupon pro- for $35 each. The booklets contained required way too much work,” McEvoy He recently issued a consumer alert, moters.” close to $500 in coupons. In theory, the said, as she looked at a box of coupon warning Connecticut consumers to “I needed a way to make some money investor should make big money selling booklets that she now claims she can- steer clear of deceptive coupon-related from home,” said Nancy McEvoy.