February 4, 2008 12:41 PM
by Jamie Colby
I know it’s post Super Bowl - and what a game it was! But if you are like most of us, you might have indulged a little more than usual last night. After all, who can resist nachos during a nail biter football game?
Not to rain on the parade (and yes we are expecting a big one tomorrow when the Giants return home), but did you hear about what Mississippi has planned for residents who indulge all the time? Their intent is honorable. Mississippi has a very high rate of cardiovascular disease. But putting restaurants in charge of what we choose to eat?
A new bill introduced in Mississippi - HB 282 - would do just that. It makes it ILLEGAL to serve fat folks. Any restaurant that serves a person with what is considered a high “BMI” index, will lose their health department license. When I reported on this story this weekend, I was surprised frankly to learn that 30% of American adults are obese. This is a frightening number. We can all do more to whittle our waistlines but putting the kid behind the counter in charge? It’s okay for me to call them kids - I was a burger king girl way back when!
“Weigh in” here. Is this an outrage or on the money?
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December 21, 2007 1:44 AM
by Adam Housley
I LOVE THIS TYPE OF INFO. JUST THE FACTS….
The average criminal sentenced to state prison serves a little more than half of her or his sentence.
• In 2004, the average state prison sentence for all offenses was 57 months. Of this, the actual time served averaged 32 months, or 55 percent of the sentence.
• The average sentence length has declined over the past ten years. In 1994, the average state prison sentence for all offenses was 71 months. During the same time period, however, the portion of the imposed sentence actually served increased, from 38 percent in 1994 to 55 percent in 2004. As a result, the estimated time served has increased slightly over the past ten years, from 27 months to 32 months
• The average sentence length, the average time served, and the proportion of the total sentence served varied greatly from state to state:
• Average sentence length: In 1999 (the latest year for which data are available), the mean maximum sentence for violent crimes ranged from a low of 38 months in North Dakota to a high of 196 months in Kentucky.
• Average time served: Felons in North Dakota served a mean of 29 months (76 percent of the original sentence), whereas felons in Missouri served a mean 85 months (86 percent of original sentence) for violent crimes.
• Proportion of sentence served: Felons in Utah and Arkansas served the smallest percentage of their sentence, 36 percent, whereas felons in Missouri served the greatest percentage of their original sentence, 86 percent.
• State versus federal court sentencing
• Average time served: Time served in prison varied according to whether the conviction was in state or federal court. Whereas prisoners sentenced in state prisons served an average of 55 percent of their sentence, those sentenced in federal courts served 88 percent of their sentence.
• Murder: Federal courts sentenced murderers more leniently than state courts, with a mean maximum sentence of 111 months from federal courts versus 232 months from state courts.
• Drug offenses: Conversely, state courts were more lenient than federal courts for drug offenses. Federal mean maximum sentences for drug offenses were more than twice as long as state sentences: 84 months for federal sentences, versus 31 months for state sentences.
• Violent crimes: Excluding sentences of less than a year, the average sentence length and time served for violent crimes did not vary much between prisoners sentenced in state or federal courts. In 2004, the average prison sentence given by state courts for violent crimes was 92 months, compared to the federal average of 96 months. Of this sentence, state prisoners served, on average, 61 months, whereas federal prisoners served 67 months.
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