USVI Prison System on NPR...not pretty...

here is the link:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17357398

No Wal Mart here in 2002.

She also referenced the "Christmas Breezes", a term I've never heard used here.

But aside from that, the story was pretty horrific. Reminds me of when they turned people out of long term mental hospitals in the late 60's. It was a good idea, but with no alternatives available, lots of mentally ill folks wound up on the streets. I was surprised there are only 5 such people presently in jail.

christmas winds

Didn't see it but I guess I'll plan on not committing any crimes so I don't have to go there. 🙂 However, I would like to murder the taxi drivers who cut over from the left turn lane in front of Yacht Haven Grande to get back to Havensight quicker. That's what clogs up the traffic & is sure to cause me road rage which I've successfully contained - so far.

Trade,

If you hear of some white guy being arrested for driving his car into a taxi on purpose...that's ME! Ugh! The traffic seems to be getting worse, doesn't it?

Trade, I'M WITH YOU! I get so angry when I wait in the correct lane to have a taxi pass to the front and another taxi lets him in!!!!! I even called the police once, I was so mad! Of course, it happens all the time and is down right WRONG!
Marty, I know someone who did just that! Mind you he was a bit loaded at the time, but he got so angry, he rammed the Taxi with his Toyota truck! lol! 🙂

The article doesn't get all its facts right, but the gist is correct. And it was Kmart. For a similar recent story, see GVI v. Durant at this link:
http://www.lexisone.com/lx1/caselaw/freecaselaw?action=FCLRetrieveCaseDetail&caseID=1&format=FULL&resultHandle=93cdddde574eae7fa934d4c7afd3e4f8&pageLimit=10&xmlgTotalCount=1&combinedSearchTerm=++name+%28durant%29++&juriName=Virgin%20Islands%20Territories&sourceFile=STATES;VICTS

This sort of thing isn't as uncommon as you'd think. The Supreme Court got wind of Durant's release and ordered him rearrested pending their determination of the People's appeal, but rumor has it he's on St. Thomas and was on a recent television show being interviewed. Anyway, no one has argued on Durant's behalf at the Supreme Court level, although I don't want to point fingers as to whose job it is. So much for advocacy...

Yesterday, an inmate with the last name of Monsanto was released from Golden Grove. He's not insane, but has other competency issues which implicated constitutional due process rights, and his underlying conviction was vacated. That's a published opinion as well, but will take a few weeks to get onto lexisone.com, a free searchable case database that includes the V.I.

I encourage Islanders to read opinions like Durant and consider how important constitutional rights are here, and to what extent they are protected. Cases like the ones mentioned here happen because the public cares about other things more. You've got to pick your issues of course, you can't save the world in every way, but continued violations of the constitutional rights of the people who are least equipped to defend against them are, in my mind, unconscionable. And far more pressing an issue than some of the others people concern themselves with on a daily basis.

Something to think about.

Let

Hello, Letahl,
Is Durant a Federal or State case? Must register to get onto Lexis (link you provided) and might be able to find the case elsewhere.

Thanks,
PT

"State" case. Registration is free if you feel so inclined. I am not aware of another free source for V.I. Territorial Law, but if you come across one please do let me know.

Let

Let,

There are websites for both the Territorial Courts and the District Courts

Here are the links:
www.vid.uscourts.gov/
www.visuperiorcourt.org/

Both have links on the left for opinions and it's free. However, you have to wait for a couple of weeks for opinions to post.

Hope that helps

C Urchin
😀

Hi, C Urchin,

Thanks, I'll give them a try.

PT

You guys know they have a public access law library at the STT Justice Complex right? I've been in there and used it extensively before.