Bloomfield's software and similar programs developed at other schools hold out the prospect that the same technology that enables students to become plagiarists will now enable their teachers to catch them. Coincidently, the UVA story broke a few days after Cliff K. Hillegass died at 83. Critics said students would use the notes as intellectual shortcuts, skipping the original work and settling instead for a dumbed-down summary. How innocent and dated that all seems now. State prisons now house about 70 such youths tried as if they were adults, convicted and sent to prison for 10 years or more.
Studies show they are the most likely inmates to be sexually assaulted.
As Sen. Geller notes that cannot be condoned by civilized society. Crime warrants punishment, but rehabilitation must remain a goal. Most inmates eventually return to society. It serves no one's interest if they leave prison harder than when they entered. Spicing up his campaign is a strategic move, but Mr. Blair should take note that cause-celebing is an uncertain game.