Not Worried About Convictions?
- Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine said Thursday that his office isn't concerned about the number of convictions it notches as much as whether it's bringing the right people to justice.
- "Contrary to the belief of some, at least I do not judge our performance by the number of convictions that we have or how many people go to prison, but by whether we obtain accountability for the person who actually committed the offense," Devine said.
In our experience and in the experience of many of our readers, the only thing that matters is the conviction rate. Getting an ASA to approve felony charges of any substance involves jumping through hoops no normal human being would tolerate.
If you grab an armed robber, get the gun, get the victim, get half a dozen witnesses who all saw the mutt who did it, why in the hell would you need the victim's second cousin on his mother's side who once delivered a pizza to the offender's ex-wife's house to shed any light on a felony approval? We don't know and the above might be a slight exaggeration, but it isn't far off the mark. We've heard some of the horror stories and experienced a few ourselves and the only thing we can figure is Felony Review doesn't know their jobs very well or it's all about the conviction rate, especially after all of the cases getting thrown out from the Daley years.
If you grab an armed robber, get the gun, get the victim, get half a dozen witnesses who all saw the mutt who did it, why in the hell would you need the victim's second cousin on his mother's side who once delivered a pizza to the offender's ex-wife's house to shed any light on a felony approval? We don't know and the above might be a slight exaggeration, but it isn't far off the mark. We've heard some of the horror stories and experienced a few ourselves and the only thing we can figure is Felony Review doesn't know their jobs very well or it's all about the conviction rate, especially after all of the cases getting thrown out from the Daley years.
posted by SCC at 5:22 AM
41 Comments:
Just read in the Sun-Times that Maggie Daley is doing well after surgery. Let's all take a moment to say a prayer for her speedy recovery.
In general, Felony Review is manned by the newbies. I remember back in the 80s, a friend of mine became an ASA and he looked forward to having enough seniority to no longer have to do felony review, especially the on-call late night hours. So you're mostly dealing with inexperienced, fearful staff who will tend to err on the side of caution when giving approval. I wouldn't suggest calling them out on this though, otherwise you'll then be dealing with an inexperienced ASA who is also feeling inferior and defensive and thus has to show the ignorant, illiterate police officer that they're the one in charge. Remember - even working for the prosecution, they ARE still LAWYERS, with all the arrogance and misguided sense of superiority that goes with that career choice.
Your average copper with over 5 years on the job knows more about what felony charges should be approved than any ASA at felony review. They are either morons, assholes, or both.
Crook county is the only county in the US that uses a felony review.
Felony review is not required by law. It is an agreement between CPD and the County. If it was law an ADS could not over-ride them.
Screw felony review, the next time you get a denial get the ADS to do an override. Believe me the bosses know that they are pulling bullshit all the time. This really pisses them off and they can do nothin gabout it. The next time you deal with ASA Molina except a denial. She is a compllete bitch who thinks she is the judge and jury right on the phone
Felony review was created over forty years ago. Its sole purpose was to ensure that only slam dunk cases went to trial. This guarantees a higher conviction rate and gives the State's Attorney a leg up to get reelected. The State's Attorney put the pressure on to get confessions. Confessions got convictions. Convictions got the SA reelected or his chosen one elected.
More Irish asshole's with a phone call. Some of the only smart ones seem to be the non-Irish, usually. Jake Rubenstein was a good example. Tom Hennelly was sharp, too. Smart kids generally don't endeavor to be ASA'S upon graduation from law school.
If you ever dealt with felony review you would know that the ASAs who come out to the area/District do not for the most part make the decision. They usually have to call Darren (SP?) O'Brien for approval. This actually drives a lot of the ASAs crazy.
Most ASA's come from bottom of the barrel law schools.
If you find an ASA that graded from NU, U of C, or better, know that there is some thing up. Spouse is wealthy and they are just slumming it. Or they got eyes on political prizes.
I worked in the Burbs before CPD and you had to call Review even on lame 1 bag rock arrests. At least CPD has that going for them.. so its a CROOK COUNTY thing, not a CPD/County thing.
Such children we are we need to ask mommies permisson to charge ....
felony charges should be left up to the District Watch Commander not the ASA. The ASA should only be trying the case in court.
ASA's are not looking for PROBABLE CAUSE they are looking for PROBABLE WIN.
Felony charges should not even be left up to the WC. If you read the statue and the crime falls into a felony they shit bird should be charge with it, plan and simple.
Remember they have had only one class in criminal law and one class in criminal court procedure, I guess this experience over-rides the experience of seasoned cops
(sarcasm off)
To: 01:31:24pm
Since you obviously are not capable of writing a sentence properly, how could anybody trust you to read and understand a "statue"?????
Thank God there are others who can read and write properly....it's not all about catching people and being physical. You must be able to put it down on paper properly and then testify to it in court.
To 01:31
If you think writing a blub in a blog using improper english or missing a period or comma somehow equals writing a case or arrest report you are the type of copper who hasn't spent two seconds testifing in court.
Give a working copper anyday to this dumbfuck who spends his day reading blog sites and correcting grammer.You are a true Fuck Head
Felony charges should not even be left up to the WC. If you read the statue and the crime falls into a felony they shit bird should be charge with it, plan and simple.
#1. statute not statue
#2. crimes don't fall into felonies
#3. "the" and not "they" shitbird
#4. "charged" and not "charge"
#5. "plain" and not "plan"
The author of this comment should never have been hired because they are illiterate!!!!
If you think speeling doen't matter in this job think again...."The fellow was familiar with the statue and thought he was being cahrged too much for something so plain" would be a good defense for a financial crime.....However, "the felon was familiar with the statute and thought he would be charged less for simply planning" is not going to get you out of much!!!
I've read the inscription at the bottom of plenty of statues. It's frustrating when they only have a name. It makes we wonder what the statue is for. What do statues have to with felony review? Maybe they should build one of Darren O'Brien. It's crazy to think that ONE man has a the squeeze on every felony reviewed arrest in Cook County. He also has the monopoly on every buffet in Orland & Tinley. That's a seperate story. Where were we?
To the asshole grammer cop I have never heard or saw one single case that was ever dismissed because of poor grammer so why don't you get off your fat ass and go to court once in awhile or continue to show everyone what a true pussy you are. HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT
Cases are won and lost based on evidence. As a police officer, you should not jump to conclusions. You should investigate, then put your case on paper and send it to the couts. We have already established that you cannot write and now you have proven that you jump to conclusions instead of investigating. I am not fat!! I go to court numerous times a week and I do my job properly!!
It's "grammar" tough guy. I didn't know grammar and policing were mutually exclusive. Why aren't you at court?
OK so spelling and grammar are not important to you....then please cite just one example where you have personally charged anybody with "violating a statue". Maybe you could explain to me how you charge somebody with anything just because "a crime falls into a felony"....Maybe I'm the idiot here but I was under the impression that you would also have to show that your "shitbird" actually committed the crime.
Time on the job does not make you better it just makes you a person with more time on the job!!
Experience can make you better but time on the job is not Experience and neither is being in a specific district or unit. If you were an idiot going there you will still be an idiot 20 years later.
I once called felony review for a psmv charge and was told " i don't talk to patrolmen get me a detective" had to wait 4 hrs for their shift to change. Amazingly I had a watch commander that understood and approved the ot. Just one of a hundred examples. But they really need to listen and learn from the coppers calling them.
That's a while ago because P.O.'s have been calling in their own P.S.M.V. cases for years and by years I mean at least 10 years or longer!!
To fat ass grammer cop what is a cout?
I hope you are not as stupid as you look now
If the ADS overrides a Felony Review rejection ... The ASA's throw the case out at the probable cause hearing. I personally have never experienced this ... but have heard this numerous times. Maybe they don't wanna be 'dissed by CPD.
The ASA's never used to call O'Brien for instructions on how to do their job every 10 minutes did they? It's been going on for about (3-4) years now though, it seems to me. Wonder why?
By the way Hennelly sounds like an Irish name to me.
"cout" is a typo for which I am guilty as charged...There is a huge difference between a few typographical errors and being totally illiterate. I have read some reports that would leave the reader in a state of total confusion as to what the officer was trying to report. This is not simply an error here and there but rather a complete lack of the basic writing skills that are essential to any police officer.
This is a good reason why there should be some kind of essay type questions on the entrance exam and not just the old multiple choice questions. These are the very prople who complain when they take promotional exams and score badly because they can't write!!!! Oh yeah the test is subjective or slanted in favor of those who can write....DUUUHH!!!
When Bob Milan moved up to the number 2 spot from head of Felony Review he stashed his lackey Darren O'Brien in the spot. They immediately removed the power to approve murder charges from the ASA's. Now it must be reviewed by a supervisor and signed off by O'Brien. Phone jobs are still up to the ASA to approve, but anything they come out on must be run past a supervisor. Does anyone remember the story in the Trib a few years ago where Bob Milan held a meeting with all the ASA's and told them not to trust the police, that we lie and beat offenders? Funny what ambition will do to a man. I remember Milan passing out some candy in rooms when he was a young ASA.
Passing out candy in rooms? Were those grammar school classrooms and was there adult supervision? I'm not saying he's a pedophile. I'm just investigating.
Yo Filmore ranger, detectives do not come out on PSMVs. Any det. Sgt. will tell you that and then laugh his ass of as he is telling the rest of the unit what a moron you are for even making the request.
Keep in mind that 99% of A.S.A.s and Public Defenders took that job because they could not get hired by a real Law Firm. Go to a university then graduate Law School and take a $40,000 a year job with shit hours and no overtime.
A store Manager for Wall Mart makes more the an A.S.A. in Cook County.
Bob Millan and Darren O'Brein are just two handh olding douchbags that think they are the only two A.S.A.s that are able to make the right choice.
I like to time the case so the A.S.A. has to call Darren at 0300 to get an approval. Once and a while they will say it's 3 AM. My response, wake that fucker up!
If you cant get an A.S.A. to review the case of they refuse to come out. never release the offender. If it's a PSMV Charge the fucker with tresspass to vehicle and put in your report that A.S.A. so & so refused to review the case. Take an extra 5 minutes get an event number, complete a short information report. sign it and throw it in the basket.
All they want is the high conviction rate.
Look at the Burge thing, cops were bad, got bad confessions through torture, the ASA did nothing wrong.
BULLSHIT
I would have no problem locking up an A.S.A.
An A.S.A. from felony review has no chance in hell of getting out of a ticket or anything.
If I was in charge I would reward my officers for locking up ASA.
Lock up an ASA - - Get 24 hrs of free comp time.
Ticket an ASA - - 4 Hrs of free comp time.
ASA's are not your friends........ TRUST ME they will hang you out to dry in a second.
26 & Cal is about 5,ooo square feet just short of the big box ordinance. looks like the ASA's will only make $6.25 an hr. How long were they in community college school of law?
Someone should remind Dick about his comments around election time, every add is about his conviction rate
The state's attorneys know that most patrolman are ignorant, shit for brains fuck-ups who don't know the difference between a proper arrest and an improper arrest. SEE it everyday from you morons in blue. fuck you dumbass patrolmen....
What color is you shirt?
Felony review will try the case over the phone, have ridiculous requests for even the easiest of property crimes, ask for a line-up even with positive ID's from reliable witnesses on a photo array. Oh yea, and don't forget to get everyone's DOB & SS, especially since ID theft is so rampant, witnesses really want to give out all their personal identification...get that 60 y/o witness SS or I won't talk anymore, call back with all that useless info....One guy pressed for an off-duty po from the burbs (witness) DOB & SS ,home add, etc. The po's name and work info wasn't enough. I absolutely refused and told them if charges weren't approved I'd go for an override. I know some people may skip and they need some demographics but pretty soon they are going to ask for blood type and dna samples before they approve charges.
You can have all the relevant evidence, witnesses, even a statement of admission from the offender and then felony review will say request something totally useless to the facts of the case like.."but how do we REALLY know that the offender likes his coffee with cream and sugar and not just sugar? You are going to have to track down that 3rd cousin twice removed who he used to live with 5 years ago and see if he can verify".. then call me back. Oh yea, and then I won't be here and there will be another shift and then that asa will make you jump through another ridiculous hoop before charges are approved.
Don't even assume they know the statute you are talking about 'cause most don't know dick....they will call you back once they get the ok from their master in charge who is just as much an idiot but with more time on. No wonder no one wants to make felony pinches, it's crazy cause the asa's don't want to work with you.
Announcement:
Benefit for Bryan Vandermey,
WED, 16 AUG 06, 8pm-12AM @ Excaliber.
P.O. being railroaded after responding to a 10-1 was accused of official misconduct and battery by Dick Devine's office, and was given 30 and pending separation 7 mos. later after an additional news story was run.Incident was a 30 minute standoff by Cabrini street pharmacists who refused to release a wanted offender in van to police. Offender was wanted for a previous battery to P.O. and drugs after he fought police, injuring both and fled the scene on previous occasion.
Van standoff ended with no injuries, but media and pundits cry foul. Lori Lightfoot, head of O.P.S. gets on public access TV (Munir Muhammad Show) and talks about witch hunt.
Just talking about officers by name on that show, matter-of-factly prior to an official conclusion of investigation violated general orders. Funny how that was never investigated.
Soon after Vandermey gets his initial launch (30 pending) without pay, based on a fuzzy homemade gangsta' video calling cops white mother f-ers. As poor quality as the yettie video was, you can see the "community" members of Cabrini throwing shit at the police. Lori forgot to mention those parts.
Accusation based on height race and weight, and that he may have transported driver "victim." He's white and tall. Well that will do; even though there were at least 4 districts/ units represented with about 200 white males. Send in Special Prosecution team!
If it's unclear, you may only guess on accusations if he fits the bill;
i.e. white male.
Would officials go out on a limb if the officer in question wasn't white. Alleged "victim" never even identifed Vandermey. Trap found in Freeman's vehicle. Dicks wanted to talk to him about a homicide. Lori forgot to mention that too.
Imagine the lawsuit it would generate if a black officer was assigned as "offender" based on a shitty video and based on his height and weight.
What, we all look alike?!!!!!!!
Verdict just in: 100 million dollars !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vandermey was found not guilty by Honorable Judge Kazmierski, and is still is not getting paid and has to face termination hearing even after being tried by OPS, IAD, the media, and in court with verdict of not guilty.
Alleged "victim" only showed up on day of court in which he had to testify. Don't blame him; he's got a bidness to run.
Meanwhile, officer loses his name, career, and house.
Career criminal gets caught about 4 times with drugs since twice w/ gun by felon- Still walking free.
Selling smack to his people. It's aa good thing the powers that be stepped in!
One of our brothers got screwed.
Why not help?
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