New York Man Hacked into AT&T’s Servers

On November 20, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced Andrew Auernheimer was convicted for breaching AT&T’s servers and stealing email address and other personal information of 120,000 iPad 3G users. Auernheimer gave the stolen information to an Internet magazine.

Court documents indicate that AT&T linked all iPad 3G user’s email addresses to an Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICC-ID) number when a person registered their iPad. When AT&T’s website recognized the number and email address, the person was directed to a faster and more user-friendly website.

Hackers soon discovered that AT&T’s website was displayed in the plain text of the site URL. The hackers then wrote a script called “iPad 3G Account Slurper” and used it in AT&T servers. The website was attacked for several days, and from June 5, 2010 to June 9, 2010, the hackers stole about 120,000 ICC-IDs and email addresses.

The information was immediately sold to the website called Gawker, and the information was published in a dedacted form. Famous people’s email addresses were hacked including Diane Sawyer, Harvey Weinsten, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Rahm Emanuel—the former White House Chief of Staff.

Auernheimer was convicted of accessing AT&T’s servers without authorization and disclosing the information to Gawker. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for each charge. The co-defendant, Daniel Spitler, was convicted of the same charges and is currently awaiting sentencing as well.

Special agents with the FBI under the direction of Michael B. Ward, Special Agent in Charge in Newark, led the investigation. Numerous other agencies helped during the investigation and prosecution. Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Martinez and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Intrater with the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Section under the U.S. Attorney’s Economic Crimes Unit led prosecution.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

Man Receives Life in Prison for Role in Murder of Witness

On November 9, 2012, the Department of Justice reported that Frank Marfo was sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to murder a bank fraud investigation witness. He was convicted on the following counts: one count of conspiracy and committing murder for hire, one count of conspiracy and murdering a witness, one count of using a gun that resulted in death, and one count of conspiracy and committing bank fraud.

Court documents show that Marfo, Tavon Davis, Bruce Byrd, and others were involved in a bank fraud scheme from May 2009 to November 9, 2011. The scheme let the defendants collect over $1 million in money orders.

Cortez Callaway worked with Davis during the scheme, but Cortez was arrested by the Baltimore County Police on December 29, 2010 for possessing counterfeited documents and theft. He admitted his role in the bank fraud scheme and told the police he was hired by Davis and others.

Between December 29, 2010 and January of 2011, Marfo, Davis and Byrd discussed the possibility of murdering Callaway to prevent him from testifying during the bank fraud trial. Marfo was going to commit the murder himself, but he and Davis eventually hired Byrd to commit the murder.

From April 5 to April 11 in 2011, Davis called Byrd 68 times and many of the calls discussed the murder. Davis finally told Callaway that Byrd wanted to meet with him on the 1700 block of Crystal Avenue in Baltimore on April 11 to discuss the testimony. Byrd shot Callaway when he was in his driver’s seat with a 10mm handgun, and Davis met with Byrd shortly after.

The two men traveled to Marfo’s residence and Davis paid Byrd $2,000. Byrd and Davis have since pleaded guilty to the crime. Byrd was sentenced to 40 years in prison, and Davis currently awaits sentencing.

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Jared Lee Loughner Sentenced for Tucson Shooting

On November 8, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced that Jared Lee Loughner was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole for killing six people and wounding 13 others—including Congresswoman Gabrielle D Giffords—on January 8, 2011.

During his plea hearing, Loughner admitted traveling to the Safeway grocery store in Tucson with a semi-automatic pistol and 93 rounds of ammunition with the plan to kill Giffords and her supporters. He was able to fire 33 rounds before he was subdued.

He pleaded to a total of 19 charges in the superseding indictment on March 3, 2011. The charges are listed below:

•   attempted assassination of Gabrielle D. Giffords
•   murders of federal employees John M. Roll and Gabriel M. Zimmerman
•   attempted murder of federal employees Ronald S. Barber and Pamela K. Simon
•   the murders of Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy J. Morris, Phyllis C. Schneck, and Dorwan C. Stoddard
•   seriously wounding Bill D. Badger, Kenneth W. Dorushka, James E. Fuller, Randy W. Gardner, Susan A.    Hileman, George S.     Morris, Mary C. Reed, Mavanell Stoddard, James L. Tucker, and Kenneth L. Veeder, Sr.
•   gravely endangering multiple other federal aides and public supporters

Loughner is serving a total of seven life sentences and a 140 sentence.

Attorney General Eric Holder stated, “Today’s sentence—life in prison without the possibility of release—means Jared Loughner will never again be free to hurt or menace the American public. For the victims, their families, and the larger community impacted by this tragic event in our nation’s history, it is my sincere hope that this conclusion will help in their journey toward physical and emotional recovery.”

Giffords was shot point-blank in the back of the head and miraculously survived. She has since participated in interviews but has retired from public service.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

Detroit Edison

What is Detroit Edison?

Detroit Edison generates, transmits, and distributes up to 11,084 megawatts of electricity to about 2.1 million customers throughout southeastern Michigan. The company uses coal, nuclear fuel, natural gas, and hydroelectric pumps to generate electricity. The company also uses renewable energy sources to generate electricity. The Fermi 2 nuclear power plant generates about 1.1 million kilowatts of electricity.

The electric company is a subsidiary of DTE Energy. The biggest subsidiaries under DTE Energy are Detroit Edison and Michigan Consolidated Gas Co (MichCon). DTE Energy has the following subsidiaries:

· DTE Biomass Energy

· DTE Coal Services

· DTE Energy Services

· DTE Energy Supply

· DTE Energy Trading

· DTE Energy Ventures

· DTE Gas Resources

· DTE Gas Storage

· DTE PetCoke

· DTE Pipeline Co.

· MichCon Laboratory Services

· MichCon Pipeline

· MichCon Storage & Transportation

· Midwest Energy Resources Co.

EPA Lawsuit against Detroit Edison

The EPA filed a lawsuit against the electric company in 2011 over violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA filed the lawsuit because the electric company was performing work on the Monroe Power Plant and the CAA prohibits construction of new facilities that have large amounts of emissions.

Amendments were made in 1977 to the CAA that allowed outdated facilities to continue operating until they underwent major modifications. The EPA could then order the plant to add features to meet federal regulations.

In 2002, the EPA modified its New Source Review and required grandfathered facilities to submit a pre-construction notice to the EPA and undergo post-project monitoring for emissions after the construction was completed. If the emissions increased, the EPA could impose a fine of $37,500 per day.

The EPA fined Detroit Edison for an emissions increase, but the company argued against the allegations. On August 23, 2011, Judge Bernard Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan dismissed the lawsuit because the EPA used data the day after the construction was completed. The emissions increased after the major modification, but they did not monitor the data for a whole year as required by law.

Discrimination Cases against Detroit Edison

The company has faced a large amount of lawsuits over the years for discrimination. Some of the cases are described below:

In 1971, a class action was brought against the company for race discrimination. There were over 12,000 workers for the company at the time, and only 400 were African American. Most had lower paying jobs, and the company settled in 1975 for $5 million. The company started to hire more African Americans and women after the settlement.

In 1993, a class action was filed by minorities, women, and older workers who were demoted or fired. Three more class actions occurred in 1997 for race, national origin, and age and sex discrimination. Three of the lawsuits are settled in 1998 for $17 million. The company was fined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for $500,000 in 1998 for sex discrimination as well.

Field of Penology

Penology

Penology is a field of criminology. One of the primary concerns of penology is prison reform. Prison reform addresses many concerns, such as the proper practice of re-socialization, reducing recidivism, protecting prisoners’ rights, how to balance deterrence, retribution, and rehabilitation, and helping felons find jobs after their release.

Resocialization

Re-socialization refers to the process by which individuals are helped to adapt to life in a new environment. Re-socialization for to jail involves teaching individuals how to abide by the rules of the jail.

Jobs for convicted felons

Finding jobs for convicted felons is a challenge. Some jobs for felons cannot be held due to a previous arrest. Jobs for ex-offenders may be permitted if the individual is cleared by a licensing board to hold a job the convicted felon would otherwise be unable to hold.

Recidivism

Recidivism is the chance of a repeat offender committing another offense. Recidivism typically refers to when a repeat offender commits an offense that is similar to the act they were previously convicted of, although recidivism may also occur if a shoplifter commits murder.

Prisoners rights

Prisoners’ rights refers to the rights that are retained by prisoners even after they have been convicted of a crime. Much of the prisoners’ rights movement is concerned with helping prisoners make sure that their rights are not violated.

Deterrence

Deterrence is the aspect of penology that aims to prevent an individual from deciding to pursue a course of action that will result in them becoming a felon in the first place. Deterrence can be specific or general.

Retribution

Retribution is the attempt to make sure that a convict receives a punishment that is appropriate to the crime the convict has committed. Modern practices of retribution means ensures that a convict will not receive a punishment that is identical to their crime, but is simply proportionate.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation of felons is the goal of much of the American penal system. Rehabilitation of felons has become the guiding principle in penology over the last century.

Dupage County Jail

The Dupage county jail in Wheaton, Illinois is considered to be one of the best jail/correctional facilities throughout the United States. It has received high ratings from the Illinois Department of Corrections, along with praise from the American Correctional Association.

The Dupage county jail is used as a detainment center for individuals who are awaiting their trial time, for those who have been sentenced to less than a year of imprisonment, individuals who are serving a periodic imprisonment.

Various types of programs are provided by the Dupage county jail, in order to provide detainees with the option for the betterment of their life. Programs, like G.E.D courses can be found in the Dupage county jail.

During the year, there are anywhere between 30 and 50 individuals who graduate from a G.E.D program in this jail. These programs help the individual develop marketable skills, to help them acquire jobs and to give them a basis for furthering education. There are also spiritual groups which mean throughout the week; these groups are open to all individuals and are a way for the detainees to reconnect with themselves and their beliefs.

For individuals who have suffered from substance abuse, the Dupage county jail has a number of substance abuse courses and groups that can help the inmates vent their issues with substance abuse, and give them the proper tools to straighten out their addictions. The Dupage county jail boasts a great facility with impeccable programs for helping their detainees to a better life once they are out of the jail.

Hopkins County Jail

The Hopkins county jail of Kentucky is a facility that is dedicated to enriching the lives of the inmates and giving the opportunities to restart their lives, and to create a better path for them and their families.

The Hopkins county jail is a facility that has all the same goals of other jails; it is a facility for detaining inmates who have been given a sentence shorter than a year, for those awaiting their trials, and transfers who are only there until they can be sent to a detention center. It is a facility to house those who are being tried or have been convicted of criminal acts.

Many of programs offered in the Hopkins county jail are focused around the needs of the individuals. These courses help the inmate to critically think about the choices that they have made, and the consequences of their actions. Thus, giving them indications as to when their thoughts and behaviors are becoming inappropriate and helping them to intervene before they can act on these thoughts/emotions.

Courses like: Criminal Thinking Errors and Rational Behavior Training are programs that were created to help these inmates walk through the actions or emotions that landed them in jail, to think about them, and to find alternate methods of dealing with them, instead of committing criminal acts.

Another program that is also used on an emotional and critical level is an anger management course; this is yet another program based on the individual and the emotional triggers that caused a serious reaction. This helps provide new methods for channeling anger into a more productive and expressive medium.

Other courses that are used are WorkKeys which is a critical assessment of the inmates’ skills and abilities. This is an assessment tool that is used for job placements and future endeavors. By identifying what an individual is strong in, the Hopkins county jail can help to redirect the individual into an area of work that they will find fulfilling, and hopefully keep them on the non-criminal path.

Anoka County Jail

County jails are an important resource when it comes to county and state safety issues; the purpose of a county jail is to hold the criminals after they have been apprehended for numerous crimes.

Because county jails tend to be on the smaller side, these are facilities often used for the holding of individuals until a hearing or as inmates of the facility serving a year or less duration of a sentence. These facilities, like the Anoka county jail, are facilities ran by a smaller group of correctional officers and can be both minimum and maximum security facilities

The Anoka county jail of Minnesota is an example of the average type of county jail facility. It is a place of detainment for criminals who are serving a shorter duration of time. In instances where and individual is sentenced to several years in prison, they might be held at the Anoka county jail until the ability to transfer to another facility comes along.

A county jail like the Anoka county jail has to be run under the strict adherence to the guidelines set forth by the American Correctional Association. These guidelines were set forth to provide and maintain a standard of rights and regulations that have to be looked after.

Within these guidelines, the Anoka county jail must provide certain amenities for the inmates. This includes 3 meals a day, showering facilities, laundry service, and the ability to contact family while in the jail.

There are certain restrictions on the items that can be given to an inmate in the Anoka county jail. These restrictions can be limitations on the type of photographs; inmates are allowed to have photographs, as long as they do not display gang affiliation or nudity.

If a family member wants to give the individual a book or other publication to read, it has to be purchased through a distributor and mailed directly to the jail; this is to ensure that no weapons, drugs, or various other contraband were slipped in. Overall, the Anoka county jail is the average, accommodating, law enforcement facility.

Nobles County Jail

Nobles county jail in Nobles County, Minnesota is an efficient and organized jailing system provide for the safety of the citizen of Minnesota. This facility is used for holding individuals until they are processed; it is a facility for individuals who have been sentenced to imprisonment for less than a year.

The Nobles county jail allows for basic conveniences for those who are detained within their walls. This means that individuals are allowed to have items like photos and various other comforts, as long as they are provided for and adhere to the guidelines set for.

For example, individuals who are the Nobles county jail are allowed to have photographs as long as they are not Polaroid pictures, do not have nudity, and there are no signs of gang affiliation.

Individuals who are detained in the Nobles county jail are also set up with an account, in which loved ones are allowed to deposit money through online deposits, or during visitation hours. The mediums used for money deposit are cash, money orders, and cashier’s checks. This money can be used by the individual for various purposes.

When it comes to being able to call home; individuals are given the option of having their family set up a collect call account, which then can be used to make calls back home. Or the individual can purchase calling cards and call the family using the specific calling cards offered by the Nobles county jail.

Though an individual can be in jail for a couple of months or the entirety of the year, they are not deprived of amenities that they would have at home. Furthermore, the inmates of Nobles county jail are also provided with leisure time, various program options, and are supplied with 3 meals a day.

What training is required to be a mediator?

What training is involved in mediation?

In the context of legal history mediation is a relatively new and ever evolving field in the legal environment. This being said there is currently no state in the Union that requires an individual to be certified or even have any kind of training in order to be a mediator. Many states, however, do require that an individual have at least some form of training or education in the field of mediation. The state of Massachusetts, for example requires a minimum of 30 hours of training for mediators. Training can also be satisfied by appropriate classes taken in undergraduate school, law school, business school or any other form of higher learning. The courses that qualify are usually those that deal with alternate dispute resolution, negotiation, and arbitration.

Why would someone get training if it is not required?

Even though mediation training is not required it is highly beneficial for those seeking to enter the field. First and foremost, mediation is a voluntary action taken by parties to a dispute. That being said, parties are free to choose their own mediators and are not court appointed. On that point it is in the mediator's best interest to be as knowledgeable about the procedures, strategies, and methods involved in mediation in order to retain clients and receive satisfactory results.

Must a mediator be certified?

As mentioned above, there is no state in the Union that requires a mediator to be certified. However, some courts require qualification standards in order to be considered in court referrels or providing services in court-connected dispute resolution programs. The court of your jurisdiction will often provide a list of these mediators for parties to choose from. As mentioned, one is not required to pick from this list and they are free to choose an outside mediator to resolve the situation.

What standards do mediators have to follow?

Mediators are not subject to exclusionary rules of evidence, or rules of evidence and there is virtually no court interaction. However, a mediator should be impartial and act as a neutral member of the negotiations. He/she has an obligation to be competent about the subject matter and be capable of devoting the time and effort necessary to resolve the matter.

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