Vol.16No.9 - Comprehensive and Independent News Summary for the Law Enforcoment Professional

Sep 29, 2026

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Vol.16No.9 compiles a comprehensive law-enforcement news briefing dated March 1, 1982, featuring federal and state criminal justice developments. The coverage highlights Attorney General Edwin Meese II’s remarks to sheriffs on jail management, overcrowding litigation, and federal support measures. It also summarizes multiple issue items including gun control legislation debates, a shoplifting survey among high school students, training and gang-related data programs, Supreme Court rulings, and energy-saving costs for public safety operations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

A Comprehensive and Independent News Summary for the Law Enforcoment Professional

Edwin Meese II: Tells Sheriffs They

Vol.16No.9 GET THE FEDERAL JUDGES OUT OFJAIL,PRISON ADMINISTRATION,MEESE TELLS NATION’S SHERIFFS By Dr.Betty B.BosargeEditor,Washington Crime News Services "In this Administration,we think sheriffs knowmore about running the jails than Federal judges do,"Presidential Counselor Edwin Meese IIl told theExecutive Committee of the National Sheriffs'Association at their Annual Luncheon in Washingtonon Feb.22. Meese,who was the featured speaker at theluncheon,told the sheriffs and Federal,state andlocal law enforcement executives that the ReaganAdministration,through Attorney General WilliamFrench Smith,is actively seeking to bring about"restraints"upon the judiciary. The Reagan Administration,he said,wants toput a stop to Federal judges "running"the nation'sjails and prisons. The Federal courts began to intervene in themanagement of jails and prisons over the last fewyears primarily as a result of the many lawsuitsbrought by inmates because of overcrowding,whichthe inmates view as an infringement upon their con-stitutional right to fair and humane treatment. Recognizing that the problem of overcrowdingneeds to be solved before the Federal courts willstop taking jurisdiction over jails and prisons,Meesesaid the Justice Department is now working on sev-eral methods of helping the states deal with over-crowding and other corrections priorities-short ofpouring in Federal funds. # A Comprehensive and Independent News Summary for the Law Enforcoment Professional March 1.1982 Page 1 IN THIS ISSUE EDWIN MEESE II:Tells Sheriffs They GUN CONTROL:Laws Limiting Ownership“Too Dfficult To Accomplish”SamHouston State University Experts Decide.....2 SHOPLIFTING SURVEY:High School StudentsFind Store Patrons Ignore Their Boosting.....4 RUSS AREND GANG:IPTM Offers Data AnalysisCourse For Law Enforcement In May ... ..5 FERRIS E.LUCAS:Announces He Will EndHis 50 Year Career In Law Enforcement.. .5 SUPREME COURT:Agrees To Hear The Los ACCREDITATION COMMISSION:Will Gather InSan Diego In Late April For Big Session. ..6 SUPREME COURT:Refuses To Hear DeathPenalty Appeals Of State Court Procedures....7 SAVING MONEY;We Think You Might SpendAround $20 To Save Thousands On Energy.. .8 LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT:ProvingPolice And Citizens Can Work Together.....8 SUPREME COURT:Rules Blanket Strip SearchPolicy Of Sheriff Is Unconstitutional......9 IN CALIFORNIA:Preliminary Report ShowsCrime Rate Increase Decreased SharplyIn 1981 Attorney General Declares.....,10 "We're mainly working right now to makeunused Federal facilities available to sheriffs forjails,"Meese said."We recognize that the countrybadly needs jail facilities-there is a serious short-age.With this shortage -and a shortage of funds一we in the Federal Government certainly cannot letunused military bases stand idle." Meese also cited the National Institute of Cor-rections training programs conducted at the Nation-al Corrections Academy in Boulder,Colorado,as anexample of what the Justice Department is doing tohelp sheriffs and state correctional administrators. "These programs are excellent,"he said,add-ing that the Justice Department will “continue tomake them available." Meese asked the sheriffs to support what Fed-eral law enforcement agencies are trying to do todeal with violent crime,despite cutbacks in Federalcriminal justice grants to the states. "What we're hoping for is to make certain thatthe Federal Government is a cooperative,ratherthan a competitive,force with state and local lawenforcement,"he said."We see a role for the Fed-eral Government that is distinct from,but supportiveof,state and local law enforcement.In other words,we support you,but we don't do the same thing." Judge Webster Has Good News Judge William H.Webster,director of the FBI,had some good news for sheriffs and police chiefswho rely upon the FBI and the Drug EnforcementAdministration for much of their specialized train-ing. "I'm working

FAQs

What did Edwin Meese II tell U.S. sheriffs regarding jail management?

He argued that the Reagan Administration wants to curb Federal judges “running” the nation’s jails and prisons, and to provide support short of pouring in Federal funds.

Why were Federal courts involved in jail and prison management in the first place?

Federal courts intervened largely due to lawsuits by inmates, often tied to overcrowding and the claim of infringement on constitutional rights to fair and humane treatment.

What major theme appears in the gun control section mentioned in this issue?

The issue reports that experts and law-enforcement generalists question how gun ownership limits could be implemented, describing it as an emotional and difficult-to-accomplish issue.

Sep 29, 2026

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