In an excellent blog on The Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-chaltain/empathy-for-a-killer_b_1702350.html?utm_hp_ref=james-holmes author Sam Chaltain dares to ask: Is it possible to feel empathy for a person capable of such senseless violence such as James Holmes?
Our usual, knee-jerk reaction is to categorize these kinds of people as psychopaths, aberrant, or crazy (whatever that means). Mr. Chaltain points out that the …
In the last post, I looked at the huge and tragic problem of worldwide trafficking of humans–particularly young people and 
children. The FBI estimates that from 600,000-800,000 humans are trafficked around the world. That is, they are forcefully taken from their homes and families. Many people assume that most of these trafficked children come into the U.S. …
Recently, law enforcement in Minnesota busted a human trafficking network that was bringing-in young Somali girls for cheap “slave” labor and the sex industry. We in Minnesota like to think we have a squeaky-clean community free from the big-city problems like trafficking.
Not true. Minnesota is actually one of the target states for human traffickers with the FBI …
A good friend of mine, Judge Kevin Burke of the District Court in Minnesota, has written a great blog about the Supreme Court decision on “Obamacare,” better 
known as the Affordable Care Act. He emphasizes something different and important from what you’re hearing in the national media. Check it out at: http://proceduralfairnessblog.org/2012/06/28/the-healthcare-decision-first-reaction/
One of the most …
In an effort to reduce costs for cash-strapped states, many have “privatized their prisons.” On paper, it looked good at one time. The state could not only get out of the business of housing, feeding, securing, and taking care of prisoners, but they could also save money. Costs to the state would plummet. In fact, the costs …
Here’s a quote from a recent issue of The Times-Picayune of New Orleans:
“Louisiana is the world’s prison capital. The state imprisons more of their people, per head…(such that) Louisiana’s incarceration rate is nearly triple Iran’s.”
What’s going on? In my own state of Minnesota, we are building a “geriatric” prison nestled in the north woods. Louisiana has …
Hey, a little different this week because my second book, Fallout, is coming out in two days. I’m excited to have it completed and available for people. It has many of the same characters from my first book, Reprisal, including the hero, Zehra Hassan. In this book, she has switched sides and is now a prosecutor …
Where do you want me to send your free book?