Number of execution warrants signed by Gov. Ed Rendell since January 2003 -- 103.

Number of prisoners on Pennsylvania's Death Row executed since January 2003 -- 0.

Governor Rendell Signs Execution Warrants for Cam Ly, Shonda Walter

A longtime staffer of state Rep. Tim Hennessey, R-26th Dist., has been charged with possessing and conspiring to sell cocaine, according to Chester County law enforcement officials.

The West Chester Daily Local News reports that Lisa A. Johnson, 46, of Coatesville, turned herself in to authorities on Thursday. Johnson works as an administrative assistant in Hennessey's Coatesville office.

Hennessey told the newspaper he knows Johnson well and is surprised by the allegations against her.

From the article by reporters Danielle Lynch and Dan Kristie:

"She has been with me for 17 years, and I was totally surprised when I heard about it," Hennessey said. "I find it hard to believe she would be knowingly involved in anything like this."

Hennessey said he has informed the House Republican Caucus of the charges. Although Johnson works in Hennessey's office, the caucus is her employer and will decide what happens to her as a result of the charges, Hennessey said.

"She is presumed innocent right now," Hennessey said. "We'll let the system work. She'll be treated the same as anyone else."

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.

Violent Crime Rate Remained Unchanged While Theft Rate Declined In 2008

Sickening story in today's Delaware County Daily Times about a man who photographed and videotaped children he sexually abused while they attended a day care center the man's wife operated out of their home.

Police said 1.2 million images of child pornography were seized from John Worman's computers. The images included 11,000 video clips of him sexually abusing the children, several of whom considered him like a father, prosecutors said.

From a story by reporter Marlene DiGiacomo:

PHILADELPHIA — Convicted child predator John Worman was sentenced Wednesday to 120 years in federal prison by a judge who described the defendant's horrific crimes involving sexual abuse on children as young as 6 weeks old as the worst in the country.

U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Stengel said that Worman, 42, of Colwyn, does not know right from wrong and continues to deny the charges "despite overwhelming evidence."

A jury convicted him in September 2008 of 55 counts of manufacturing child pornography and one count of child pornography in which he documented in sickening detail on videotape and photos of himself forcing sex on a dozen children ranging from infancy to 15 years old.

"John Worman manufactured grief … psychological and physical havoc on the lives of these children," said Stengel. "One victim is too many. One time is too much."

The jurors who convicted him were so traumatized by the videos they had to watch during the trial that the judge provided a chance for them to talk to a psychologist following the verdict.

One juror said after the trial that he felt like he was "looking at Satan sitting over there," referring to Worman.

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.

Calls to the Elder Abuse Hotline, 1-800-490-8505, can be made anonymously.

Department of Aging Urges Citizens to Report Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults

Don't look now, but Ed Rendell is turning into the law-and-order governor in 2009.

Did he see that new Clint Eastwood movie over the holidays?

Stung by several high-profile acts of violence by parolees during his tenure, Rendell is calling on the state Legislature to make it tougher to parole violent offenders.

"In 2008, four Pennsylvanians were brutally murdered by five men who had served state time for violent crimes and were out on parole," Rendell said in a press release. "These murders cry out for changes in how we sentence and supervise repeat violent offenders, so today, I am asking the General Assembly to end parole for repeat violent offenders. These murders were clear indications that repeat violent offenders must serve more time in prison and that repeated violent acts must be met with even tougher consequences."

It's about time Rendell took a serious look at crime in Pennsylvania, something he's ignored during his six years in office.

Rendell wants legislation to either eliminate or limit parole for certain classes of offenders. And guess what? He will probably get it.

While he's in the last two years of his lame-duck second term, Rendell should be able to attract enough Republicans votes to get tougher laws on the books on parole for violent offenders.

Read the governor's full press release at the link below:

PA Gov. Rendell to Legislature: End Paroles for Repeat Violent Offenders to Keep Communities Safe

The shooting death of a Philadelphia police officer by a paroled convict prompted an independent review of the state's parole policy.

Independent Review Validates Pennsylvania's Parole Procedures, Suggests Improvements

Every time we approach a holiday weekend, the Pennsylvania State Police or PennDOT put out a standard press release urging motorists not to drink and drive.

The folks at PennDOT have outdone themselves with a press release put out before the approaching Labor Day weekend.

Somebody figured out that when you total up all the penalties, fees and legal costs of a DUI arrest, you will shell out at least $10,000. Wow! Makes you think twice about having another beer, doesn't it? And that doesn't include the embarrassment of having your name published in the police log of your local newspaper, where friends, relatives and co-workers can see it.

Here's the press release:

KING OF PRUSSIA – PennDOT will partner with more than 300 municipal police departments and Pennsylvania State Police to crack down on impaired drivers this Labor Day holiday. An impaired driving arrest can cost motorists as much as $10,000.

The costs associated with an impaired driving arrest can vary greatly depending on several factors, including blood-alcohol content, location of arrest, and number of offenses. The effect on a driver's wallet starts the moment they are stopped by police.

- Traffic fine: $300 - $10,000 depending on blood alcohol content and number of offenses
- Towing vehicle: $50 flat fee plus mileage
- Impound: $75 - $175 per day
- Legal fees: $2,000 - $8,000 or more
- Alcohol evaluation: $35 - $100
- Accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD): $100 - $1,800
- Education and treatment: $100 - $1,000 or more
- License restoration: $25 non-commercial, $75 commercial
- Insurance premium: increase of about $1,000 a year or cancellation of policy

Apart from the financial aspects of a DUI arrest, there may also be social ramifications. Court appearances, community service requirements or jail time lead to lost time and lost wages – possibly job loss. A DUI conviction may also hurt job applicants who have to check the box indicating a criminal record. Finally, a driver’s family could be embarrassed by the arrest.

The 2007 Labor Day period was the deadliest holiday of the year for alcohol-related crashes on Pennsylvania highways with 175 crashes and 11 fatalities. An additional 287 alcohol-related crashes and 16 fatalities occurred during the weekends before and after the holiday.

State Sen. John Rafferty Jr., R-44th Dist., supports state Auditor General Jack Wagner's call for Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring of convicted sex offenders.

The proposal is aimed at further strengthening Pennsylvania's Megan's Law, which protects children and communities by requiring convicted sex offenders to register their names and addresses on the publically accessible Megan's Law Web site, www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us

Sen. Rafferty, who chairs the Senate Law and Justice Committee, and Sen. Jane Orie, R-40th Dist., are sponsoring legislation to require the use of GPS for individuals determined to be sexually violent predators; sex offenders who have been convicted of a subsequent sex offense after having been required to register; and individuals required to register under Megan's Law and who have been convicted of failure to comply.

"This is part of an ongoing process to protect the children of this Commonwealth," Rafferty said in a written statement. "It amazes me that a person can drive into Philadelphia and use his or her vehicle GPS unit to locate open parking spots but for some reason we still don't widely use this same technology to track pedophiles who seek to harm our children. It makes no sense to me and it needs to change as soon as possible."

The New Jersey State Parole Board recently issued a report concerning the GPS Monitoring of Sex Offenders Pilot Project Act, according to Rafferty.

The board concluded that: "GPS monitoring has contributed to a significantly lower recidivism rate than nationwide data indicates for high-risk sex offenders. The monitoring also provides an invaluable resource for investigations, by providing data that can be compared with the times and places of new sex crimes."

Under the legislation GPS tracking would be done by either the body supervising the individual's probation or parole or by the Pennsylvania State Police, according to Rafferty. It would be a criminal offense to tamper with or remove the GPS device, he said.

Sens. Rafferty and Orie are also sponsoring Senate Bill 1130 to require Pennsylvania to implement the Adam Walsh Child Protection Act, which seeks to create a national sex offender registry available on the Internet as well as uniform enforcement.

From state Rep. Tom Quigley, R-146th District:

HARRISBURG — State Rep. Tom Quigley (R-Montgomery) was among House members to stand in support of legislation calling for stricter rules regarding parole at a state Capitol news conference hosted Wednesday by Reps. John Perzel (R-Philadelphia), John Taylor (R-Philadelphia), and George Kenney (R-Philadelphia).

Referenced during the event was the recent death of Philadelphia Police Officer Stephen Liczbinski, whose murderers each had long criminal records.

Quigley said, "When Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says that these men should not have been out on the street, it means we are past due in overhauling the current parole system. I am in full support of the legislation that will be introduced to confront the problems inherent to the system."

Pending legislation would attack shortcomings of the parole system in the following ways:

1) Eliminating parole for any violent offender convicted of rape, robbery, murder, aggravated assault, or any crime with a gun.

2) Eliminating early release programs for offenders convicted of a violent crime or a crime involving a gun.

3) Requiring that all mandatory five year sentences for gun offenses be served consecutively and not concurrently with sentences for other crimes.

Quigley is also in favor of tougher and longer sentences being imposed on repeat violent offenders by Pennsylvania’s judges.

"The current formula of prevention and rehabilitation for criminals who are repeat offenders does not work by itself," added Quigley. "The added component of stricter penalties needs to be implemented in order to reduce the rate of recidivism."

Statistics released during the event show there are 1,331 violent fugitives unaccounted for, according to the Pennsylvania Parole Board.