A look at data from the FBI shows crime in Arizona is actually down. Murders in Phoenix have dropped by 50 percent since 2003. The violent crime rate across the state has dropped every year since at least 2004. Even the number of illegal border crossers is down. Border Patrol numbers show they are arresting half as many illegal immigrants as they did in 2004.
In the meantime, a CBS 5 investigation revealed that there is one business that could gain from the implementation of SB 1070 and similar immigration measures. The private prison industry houses illegal immigrant detainees for the federal government. Those companies could gain contracts with state and local agencies to house illegal immigrants arrested for state violations.
Corrections Corporation of America, or CCA, holds the federal contract to house detainees in Arizona. The company bills $11 million per month. CBS 5 Investigates has learned that two of Brewer’s top advisers have connections to CCA.
Paul Senseman is the governor’s deputy chief of staff. He is also a former lobbyist for CCA. His wife is listed as a current lobbyist for the company.
Chuck Coughlin is one of the governor’s policy advisers and her campaign chairman. Coughlin’s company, HighGround Public Affairs Consultants, currently lobbies for CCA.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
A look at data from the FBI shows crime in Arizona is actually down. Murders in Phoenix have dropped by 50 percent since 2003. The violent crime rate across the state has dropped every year since at least 2004. Even the number of illegal border crossers is down. Border Patrol numbers show they are arresting half as many illegal immigrants as they did in 2004.
In the meantime, a CBS 5 investigation revealed that there is one business that could gain from the implementation of SB 1070 and similar immigration measures. The private prison industry houses illegal immigrant detainees for the federal government. Those companies could gain contracts with state and local agencies to house illegal immigrants arrested for state violations.
Corrections Corporation of America, or CCA, holds the federal contract to house detainees in Arizona. The company bills $11 million per month. CBS 5 Investigates has learned that two of Brewer’s top advisers have connections to CCA.
Paul Senseman is the governor’s deputy chief of staff. He is also a former lobbyist for CCA. His wife is listed as a current lobbyist for the company.
What a slanted article. What does one have to do with the other? So what if murder if Phoenix dropped 50%? I didn't think murder was one of those statistics that had an acceptable level.
That's like saying death from AIDS has dropped by 50% and doctors are treating half as many patients, so now you don't fund the pharmaceutical company that lobbies congress in efforts to develop a cure.
What a bunch of illogical garbage. Is this all the fire power you libs have?
The entire excuse for SB1070 is the INCREASE OF CRIME caused by illegals. Crime hasn't increased, it's decreased.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
New data from the Arizona Department of Corrections shows that undocumented immigrants are increasingly over-represented in the state's prison population.
In June 2010, undocumented immigrants represented 14.8 percent of Arizona state prisoners, but accounted for only 7 percent of the state's overall population according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The new data also revealed for the first time a breakdown of crimes for which undocumented immigrants were incarcerated.
For example of all the prisoners serving time in Arizona state prisons for kidnapping, 40 percent were undocumented.Of those in prison on drug charges, 24 percent were undocumented. And 13 percent of those serving time for murder were undocumented immigrants, according to the new data from the Arizona Department of Corrections.
The number of undocumented immigrants in Arizona state prisons has also grown in recent years. In December, 2004 there were 4,098 undocumented immigrants in the Arizona state prison population making up 12.6 percent according to state data. By June 2010 the number had increased to 14.8 percent for a total of 5,983 incarcerated undocumented immigrants.
Criminologist professor James Alan Fox from Northeastern University was not surprised by the new information, "You take any population that tends to be poor and you will have a higher rate of individuals in prison," he said. "One, there is a correlation between social class and criminality and two there's a correlation between social class and the likelihood you'll be sent to prison for the same crime as compared to people in a higher social class."
Fox says this is due in part to inadequate legal representation for low-income people. And he adds: "There's a title of an old book the rich get richer; the poor get prison."
FBI crime data indicates a 10 percent decline in Arizona's crime rate from 2000 to 2009 which some see as a sign that undocumented immigrants have not made the state more violent overall.
Tonight on the CBS Evening News, correspondent Bill Whitaker examines this question and speaks to law enforcement officials in Arizona about the connection between immigration and crime.
Hey Cis--you want firepower from the libs--you should have gotten your dead a$$ down to the Crown Plaza. Lots of firepower there. And let me extend the following to all: An invitation* to a
VIGIL of
RESISTANCE TO ARIZONA’S IMMIGRATION LAW and
SOLIDARITY WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
*Co-sponsorship list in process
Context: Arizona’s draconian new immigration law is scheduled to be implemented on July 29, 2010. Although this date is now uncertain in light of the Federal Government lawsuit challenging the law, there continues to be call for a Day of Non-Compliance and Protest on that date. In addition, twenty-two states are contemplating or have introduced similar legislation and Arizona has experienced an outpouring of financial support to fight the Federal suit. As people of faith and concern, one response we can make is to gather prayerfully to express our resistance to the law and our solidarity with immigrants throughout the land.
Hey, I welcome the immigrants. I and a gazillion other people just want them 'legal'.
The business community should not be allowed to make a profit off of the backs of these illegals by paying them sub-wages and not having to contribute to their mandated benefits.
AND the illegals should not be receiving government benefits when they are not paying into the system or following our countries laws.
The business owners that hire illegals are also fighting this reform.....it will effect their 'bottom' line.
Immigration reform would be a win/win for the illegals.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Again, more people spouting off who have never set foot in Arizona and know nothing about the problems faced by Arizonans.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
I will join you in showing solidarity with the immigrant community, by showing my support for SB1070 and combating the flood of ILLEGAL immigrants into our country and our immigrant communities. Many of these illegal immigrants disrupt our immigrant communities by murdering, kidnapping, and selling drugs in these communities at disproportionate levels. It would be irresponsible to let this to continue to go unaddressed.
So I ask you Boom. Join me in supporting SB1070 and keeping our legal immigrant communities safe from these law breaking intruders.