Latest news with #BureauofJusticeAssistance
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Albany man receives two life sentences for 1988 cold case rape and kidnapping
The Brief Reginald Colwell was sentenced to two life terms plus 20 years for kidnapping, raping, and assaulting a woman in a 1988 cold case. The conviction was based on DNA evidence from a preserved sexual assault kit, matched to Colwell in 2019 through a federal initiative. Colwell's life sentences are subject to 1988 parole eligibility guidelines due to the crime's occurrence date. DECATUR, Ga. - An Albany man has been sentenced to two life terms plus 20 years in prison after being convicted of kidnapping, raping, and assaulting a woman in a 1988 cold case, prosecutors announced Tuesday. A DeKalb County jury on May 20 found 58-year-old Reginald Colwell guilty on charges of kidnapping, rape, and aggravated assault for the December 30, 1988, attack. Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams, who presided over the trial, handed down the sentence on Tuesday, ordering the terms to be served consecutively. The backstory According to investigators, the 20-year-old victim reported the rape to DeKalb County Police after being attacked while leaving her apartment on Weatherly Drive in unincorporated Stone Mountain. As she locked the front door, a man wearing a ski mask held a knife to her throat and forced her into nearby woods, where he sexually assaulted her and threatened to kill her if she resisted. The victim fled to a nearby neighborhood once the attacker ran off, and a resident helped her call her boyfriend, who took her to the police station. Officers recovered her purse and other items scattered in the woods and transported her to Grady Memorial Hospital for a sexual assault examination. Although DNA testing was not available at the time, the sexual assault kit was preserved by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In 2015, DeKalb County joined a federally funded effort through the Bureau of Justice Assistance's National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), which aimed to process long-untested rape kits. In 2019, testing from the victim's case produced a CODIS match to Colwell. A court-ordered DNA sample confirmed the match. Prosecutors said Colwell had been living in DeKalb County at the time of the attack. What's next Because the crime occurred in 1988, Colwell's life sentences fall under the parole eligibility guidelines in place at the time. The Source The DeKalb County District Attorney's Office provided the details on the case. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office provided the mug shot and arrest record.
CBS News
14-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Private sector DEI programs still legal despite Trump's executive order, Maryland AG says
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is one of 16 state attorneys general joining together to issue guidance on how organizations should approach Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs in the workplace. In the letter, the AGs emphasize that DEI programs are still legal, despite an executive order issued by President Trump halting federal DEI programs nationwide. Following the order, Maryland leaders shared their support for DEI programs, and the City of Baltimore responded with a lawsuit alleging that the order would stifle programs the city relies on for essential functions. What is DEI and DEIA? DEI and DEIA refer to principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. While the push gained momentum after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, DEI has much earlier roots. The concept dates back to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, and other criteria. Since then, other policies seeking to eliminate hiring bias, promote fairness in the workplace, and provide equal opportunities to people of color, women, and individuals with disabilities have arisen. DEI has also expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Are workplace DEI and DEIA programs legal? Mr. Trump's executive order calls for an end to "discriminatory programs," including "'diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility' (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear." It also instructs the U.S. attorney general to create a plan that would deter the private sector from continuing DEI programs. According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance, "Executive Orders (EOs) are official documents … through which the President of the United States manages the operations of the Federal Government." But the memo from the 16 state attorneys general says Mr. Trump's executive action does not have the authority to mandate an end to DEI and DEIA programs within the private sector. "Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility best practices are not illegal, and the federal government does not have the legal authority to issue an executive order that prohibits otherwise lawful activities in the private sector or mandates the wholesale removal of these policies and practices within private organizations, including those that receive federal contracts and grants," the memo reads. AGs say DEI prevents workplace discrimination The attorneys general argue that DEI employment practices are not only lawful but exist to prevent workplace discrimination — protecting companies from the risk of lawsuits. "Employment policies incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility best practices are not only compliant with state and federal civil rights laws, but they also help to reduce litigation risk by affirmatively protecting against discriminatory conduct that violates the law." According to the 16 attorneys general, more than 285,000 discrimination complaints have been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by employees in their states alone. In the letter, the attorneys general said Mr. Trump's executive order is misleading and suggests that DEI policies are discriminatory practices. "The Executive Order states what is already the law—that discrimination is illegal—but then conflates unlawful preferences in hiring and promotion with sound and lawful best practices for promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workforce," the coalition of attorneys general wrote. "This conflation is inaccurate and misleading. Policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are not the same as preferences in individual hiring and promotion decisions that have been found to be unlawful. The Executive Order cannot and does not prohibit these otherwise lawful practices and policies." How should organizations implement DEI policies? The attorneys general encouraged organizations to prioritize wide-scale recruitment efforts to attract diverse applicant pools, while using panel interviews to ensure multiple perspectives in hiring and promotion decisions. The AGs said companies should also establish standardized evaluation criteria focused on skills and experience to maintain objective, merit-based hiring processes. Companies are also encouraged to maintain accessible recruitment practices and provide reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process. In the letter, the attorneys general also told companies to ensure that employees have equal access to professional development, training, and mentorship programs to minimize turnover rates and strengthen organizational culture. They also recommended employee resource groups, or ERGs, which are spaces where employees of common backgrounds can feel recognized and supported. In addition, the AGs encouraged organizations to conduct training on unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, and disability awareness. How do DEI programs impact the workplace? DEI experts told CBS News that DEI is often misperceived as being solely focused on race. Policies giving working parents flexible work hours or establishing professional groups based on shared identities, such as sexual orientation, could also be classified as DEI programs. Proponents of DEI argue that it improves the quality of the workforce and its employees, while opponents argue DEI programs work against the principle of merit-based hiring and promotions or even promote discrimination themselves. According to Mr. Trump's executive order, DEI policies have led to "illegal, pernicious discrimination that has prioritized how people were born instead of what they were capable of doing." In a statement Thursday, Attorney General Brown said companies in the top quartile for diversity are 35% more likely to have financial gains above their respective industry counterparts, citing a study by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company. "Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives are not only legal, they are essential for creating fair, thriving workplaces. They help businesses comply with the law, prevent discrimination, and ensure equal opportunities for all employees," Brown said. "DEIA policies are critical for expanding talent pools, addressing bias, and fostering employee success. Far from being illegal, they are vital for business growth, retention, and engagement."
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
Franklin Police Department to get bodycams, the last department in Milwaukee County to do so
The Franklin Police Department is getting bodycams with the help of a grant. Franklin is the last police department in Milwaukee County to adopt them, according to city documents. 'We're the last to get this,' Ald. Michelle Eichmann said at Franklin's Jan. 21 Common Council meeting. The city applied for and was awarded a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant to purchase 10 body-worn cameras, or BWCs, and implement a body-worn camera policy for the police department. The grant provides $20,000 ($2,000 per camera) and requires a 50% match of the cost from Franklin. The grant has a three-year duration and the 50% match ($20,000) from the city can be split into three annual payments. Franklin has already allotted funds in its 2025 budget to go toward the bodycam program, said Ald. Jon Peccarelli. The council unanimously accepted the grant at its Jan. 21 meeting. Franklin must submit its BWC policy to the Bureau of Justice Assistance within 120 days of acceptance or else the funds will be frozen. Mayor John Nelson, who worked in law enforcement for 30 years, said this is a big deal. 'This saves careers. It saves lawsuits. It's a win, win, win,' he said at the meeting. City documents note body-worn cameras have expected outcomes of 'increased prosecution rates, transparency with the public, improved officer safety through training related to BWC video, and reduced civil liability.' Contact Erik S. Hanley at Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Franklin police to get bodycams, last department in county to get them
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
$2.5M awarded to develop sexual assault kit tracking system in Pennsylvania
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A federal award to Pennsylvania will see that over $2,000,000 will be used to develop a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system. The award comes from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and will help the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to improve the support for survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability. 'Rape and sexual assault is about power – attackers want to take away their victims' power and dignity, their feeling of safety and security,' Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, who serves as chair of PCCD said. 'As leaders, we need to do everything we can to help victims feel safe and whole again. If a victim is able to summon the strength to go through the process of getting a sexual assault examination and file a police report, they deserve to know their rape kit is being handled with care and attention, that their case is a priority. Here in Pennsylvania, we're reducing the backlog of processing rape kits, but there's much more work to be done. Now that we've passed Senate Bill 920, Governor Shapiro has signed it into law and with this federal funding, we can create a statewide tracking system that keeps victims informed and helps them get their power back.' Over $3M invested in Pennsylvania to develop maternal health coalitions In October of last year, a bill that would require Pennsylvania to develop a tracking system and enhance the rights of sexual assault victims was signed into law. That bill was sponsored by Senator Wayne Langerholc and he said that this award will help to support survivors. 'Act 122 reinforces the Commonwealth's dedication to supporting survivors and ensuring offenders are held accountable. This rape kit tracking system will allow sexual assault survivors to track the progress of their kits throughout an investigation,' Langerholc said. 'The $2.5 million federal grant from the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative will help launch the system sooner, ensuring faster access for survivors.' Sexual assault kit testing can be a lengthy process and it can lead to backlogs in crime labs. Automated sexual assault kit tracking systems allow survivors to know where their sexual assault kit is throughout the testing process and prompt efficient processing to prevent backlogs and delays, which in turn can speed up the criminal justice process and prevent future assaults. A portion of the funds will be used to develop a state-level team to build on Pennsylvania's efforts for sexual assault evidence collection. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
