October 2016

By Amanda Knox

International Wrongful Conviction Day celebrates its third anniversary on Tuesday, October 4th. In honor of that, here’s a layman’s crash course in the causes of wrongful conviction, and a brief introduction to the Innocence Movement.

The Causes
Wrongful convictions are not some weird anomaly. Studies estimate that between 2.3 and 5% of people currently incarcerated are actually innocent. The causes of wrongful conviction are well-documented and stem from systemic problems. They are:

1) Inadequate defense
It would be nice if the simple fact of your innocence were enough to protect you from having to face criminal charges. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Time and again, innocent people are forced to stand trial, and their futures depend not so much on the fact of their innocence as on how well their lawyers make a case for their innocence. When an overworked or incompetent lawyer fails to make the case, an innocent person will be wrongfully convicted.

2) Invalid forensic evidence

A new threat to the regional ecology is starting to show up in Puget Sound, and scientists are calling it one of the worst invasive species known.

Washington Sea Grant and Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife recently announced that a single European green crab (Carcinus maenas) was found in Padilla Bay by staff of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Padilla Bay NERR). This is the second sighting of the global invader. The first sighing of the crab in Washington waters was in late August at Westcott Bay, San Juan Island, where volunteers caught one.

“We were relieved to find very little evidence of a larger population of invasive European green crab in Westcott Bay,” said Padilla Bay Reserve staff member, Emily Grason. “But finding an additional crab at a site more than 30 miles away suggests that ongoing vigilance is critical across all Puget Sound shorelines.”

Grason works with P. Sean McDonald, both crab experts with Washington Sea Grant.

UPDATE Oct. 13

The event scheduled by Furry Faces Foundation, "Mutts n' Martinis" set for Oct. 15 has been postponed. Here's the notice:

We have made the difficult decision to postpone our ‘Mutts ‘n ‘Martinis…a yappy hour’ event, which was scheduled for this Saturday, October 15th from 4 pm – 7pm. We are very sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment this decision may cause.

FAQs

Q: Why did Furry Faces decide to postpone Mutts ‘n’ Martinis?

Answer:
Safety first. There is enough evidence to suggest our area is likely to experience very high winds and buckets full of rain which could create hazardous driving and walking conditions; scared dogs that could bolt; power outages during the event; and other safety concerns.
Dogs will not enjoy themselves. Happy dogs = happy people and vice a versa. High winds and rain will not be fun to play in, plus would blow through Stay! Doggie Daycare’s interior, creating miserable conditions. We want our canine and human guests to enjoy themselves during this cocktail event.

Q: We purchased our tickets via Paypal. What do we do?

If you would like to obtain some well considered financial advice, contact Sarah Cecil 206-938-6017.

Brought to you by Sarah Cecil Financial Advisor with Edwards Jones Investments.

Sponsored post.

Hot Topics For Seniors at the Library
Seattle Public Library, S.W. Branch
9010 35th Ave. S.W.
Wed., Oct. 5, Noon–1 p.m. October’s topic will be Living Well Toward the End of Life: Creativity, Community and Positive Aging. This group is presented in partnership with Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA). For more information, call the Library at 206.684.7455.

Words, Writers
& West Seattle
Barnes & Noble
Westwood Village
Fri., Oct. 7, 5–7 p.m. “Mea Culpa – Lessons on Law and Regret from U.S. History” to be discussed by author and SU Professor Steven W. Bender. Words, Writers & West Seattle’s ‘First Friday’ book-talk sponsored by The Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Free.

Karaoke with Librarians
The Skylark Café
3803 Delridge Way S.W.

Sponsored by Sarah Cecil

In 2015 alone, more than 13 million Americans were victimized by identity theft, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. What can you do to guard your identity and protect yourself from potential financial losses? 
Here are some ideas to consider: 

• Review your statements. Closely review the monthly statements from your checking and other financial accounts. If you find any unfamiliar charges, contact your bank or other financial services provider immediately.  

• Order your credit reports. The three credit reporting agencies – TransUnion, Equifax and Experian – are each required by law to provide you one free credit report a year. Make sure your name, address and other information are correct on your credit report, and if you find old or inaccurate information, have it removed. 

• Place a fraud alert. If you suspect you have become a victim of Identity theft, place a "fraud alert" on your credit reports by contacting any of the three credit reporting agencies. You can choose a short-term or long-term alert. And if you’re an active member of the military, you can request a special, one-year alert.