I never know what to make of these trend pieces, but the AP has a hopeful article on how states are now "rethinking" the practice of charging kids as adults, while the Kansas City Star finds states "re-examining" residency restrictions for former sex offenders. Those changes would make a lot of sense (read the articles for a sense of the debate), but, then again, it seems like there are always stories in the news about states reconsidering this or that ineffective crime-control strategy, and not much ever seems to come of it...

On the other hand, our neighbors to the north are "pressing ahead with plans to create mandatory minimum prison terms for drug crimes in spite of two studies [prepared for the Canadian government] that say such laws don't work." Well, that's never stopped anyone on this side of the border.