Only 110 of the 3,076 people arrested on looting and other blackout-related charges during the citywide power failure that began last July 13 have been sentenced to jail terms of a year or more, according to a report issued yesterday by NY State court and criminal officials.
Fewer than half got any jail time at all. This contrasts with the usual felony burglary conviction pattern, in which jail terms are imposed in nearly three out of four cases.
Thursday, July 13, 1978
Friday, June 23, 1978
Berkowitz Outbursts Disrupt Court; Sentencing Put Off, Tests Ordered
David R. Berkowitz, who was scheduled to be sentenced yesterday for the six “Son of Sam” murders, battled officers before entering the courtroom, then walked in chanting, “Stacy was a whore.”
The courtroom erupted in turmoil and, only minutes later, he was dragged out by half a dozen officers.
Neya M. heard him chanting and cried out, “You’re an animal!” and ran out of the courtroom. “That’s right. That’s right,” Berk shouted after her. “I’d kill her again. I’d kill them all again!”
Robert Violante jumped up shouting, “You should get killed, you creep!” (His vision is limited to four feet in the one eye that has vision). He collapsed in his seat sobbing.
Those who had observed the .44-caliber killer during earlier court appearances were shocked. He had always seemed pleasant, polite, even slightly repentant, they said. But when he was dragged into the courtroom yesterday, his face was flushed, his eyes distended wildly and his forehead smeared with dirt. His light blue suit – the same one he had worn in other court appearances – was rumpled and soiled.
Later a young friend of the M. family, Daniel Carrique shouted out, “That’s no justice! What about the families? How much do you think they can take?”
Carrique was led from the courtroom by guards. Judge Joseph Corso was visibly angered. “I trust I am presiding in an American court to dispense justice. I will not be influenced by any public clamor.”
Excerpt from June 23, 1978 New York Times
The courtroom erupted in turmoil and, only minutes later, he was dragged out by half a dozen officers.
Neya M. heard him chanting and cried out, “You’re an animal!” and ran out of the courtroom. “That’s right. That’s right,” Berk shouted after her. “I’d kill her again. I’d kill them all again!”
Robert Violante jumped up shouting, “You should get killed, you creep!” (His vision is limited to four feet in the one eye that has vision). He collapsed in his seat sobbing.
Those who had observed the .44-caliber killer during earlier court appearances were shocked. He had always seemed pleasant, polite, even slightly repentant, they said. But when he was dragged into the courtroom yesterday, his face was flushed, his eyes distended wildly and his forehead smeared with dirt. His light blue suit – the same one he had worn in other court appearances – was rumpled and soiled.
Later a young friend of the M. family, Daniel Carrique shouted out, “That’s no justice! What about the families? How much do you think they can take?”
Carrique was led from the courtroom by guards. Judge Joseph Corso was visibly angered. “I trust I am presiding in an American court to dispense justice. I will not be influenced by any public clamor.”
Excerpt from June 23, 1978 New York Times
Tuesday, June 06, 1978
1,058 Bombings in US In 1977 Sets A Record
There were a record 1,058 bombings in the US last year, and labor strife was behind more of them than any other cause, the Treasury Dept reported today.
In 1976 there were 870 explosive bombings.
Thirty-eight people were killed, some of them when their cars blew up.
NYT 6/6/78
In 1976 there were 870 explosive bombings.
Thirty-eight people were killed, some of them when their cars blew up.
NYT 6/6/78
Tuesday, February 14, 1978
Reports of Violent Crime Dropped by 9% in NYC Last Year
The total number of violent crimes reported in NYC declined last year, for the first time since 1973, according to statistics made available yesterday by the Police Dept.
The Dept said that a total of 121,916 violent crimes – murders, forcible rapes, robberies and assaults – were reported in 1977 a 9 percent drop from the 1976 number: 134,153.
The overall number of major crimes – including burglary, larceny and motor-vehicle theft dropped 7% to 610,062.
But even with the one year improvement the overall figure for 1977 was higher than it had been in all recent years but 1976 and even exceeded the total recorded in 1971 which was regarded as an exceptionally high crime year.
(591,9292 major crimes and 126,740 violent).
Criminals were finding it “easier and safer to rip off property than people.”
1977 crime figures were depressed by extreme cold weather early in the year….
The number of homicides was placed at 1,557, 65 fewer than in the year before.
NYT 2/14/78
The Dept said that a total of 121,916 violent crimes – murders, forcible rapes, robberies and assaults – were reported in 1977 a 9 percent drop from the 1976 number: 134,153.
The overall number of major crimes – including burglary, larceny and motor-vehicle theft dropped 7% to 610,062.
But even with the one year improvement the overall figure for 1977 was higher than it had been in all recent years but 1976 and even exceeded the total recorded in 1971 which was regarded as an exceptionally high crime year.
(591,9292 major crimes and 126,740 violent).
Criminals were finding it “easier and safer to rip off property than people.”
1977 crime figures were depressed by extreme cold weather early in the year….
The number of homicides was placed at 1,557, 65 fewer than in the year before.
NYT 2/14/78
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