From the Just-a-Great-Story Dept.

Newly minted underdog lawyer tries to make good as a public defender.
St. Petersburg Times Floridian

A good cop is hard to find

Experts say there's a shortage of recruits because of low pay, boomer retirements, and most of the kids want to do CSI and forensics.
Christian Science Monitor

Stalking rape in New York City

With other offenses down, NYC law enforcement searches for a way to deal with one of the most difficult crimes.
Village Voice

Death waits for New Jersey

New Jersey closes in on a one-year moratorium on executions in order to study the economics, ethics, and alternatives.
Asbury Park Press

Hot cots not

Idaho politican thinks state inmates should share beds by sleeping in shifts.
Idaho State Journal

NY prison guards accused of rape

A lawsuit alleges that sexual abuse, assault, and harassment of female inmates by male guards is common in New York’s state correctional facilities.
The NewStandard

RI OKs MJ Rx

Or, Rhode Island has become the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana.
AP/CNN

Death penalty timeline

Capital punishment in the United States from the 17th century until today. Special bonus: a map with the number of executions in each state since 1976.
Boston Globe