Saturday, June 6, 2009

A letter from an officer of the peace.

This was recently posted by a friend of mine - I am recopying it, and reposting it in the hopes that more people read it.

I would like to hear your take on the judicial system.  For too 
 long we have had County Prosecutor who dismisses, never files or 
 waives Felony crimes with no other motivation than "if crime is not 
 prosecuted then it's not in my budget." She'll use other transparent 
 speak to explain it away, but this is the underlying reason.  The 
 prosecutors are paid by performace which further encourages them to 
 only push the easy case through.  The result is misdemeanor charges 
 for crimes or nothing at all.  This means a fine.  There are 
 threshhold amounts for illegal drug possession as well which is 
 outragous.  You can now carry a usable amount of Crack or 
 Methamphetamine and only get charged with misdemeanor paraphernalia if 
 caught!  Waiving Felony charges is a direct violation of the Victim's 
 Bill of Rights and does not allow the Victims input into prosecution in some cases.  Waiving felony charges also effects setencing for future crimes. Many Felony convictions have detailed sentencing guidelines which 
 increase the severity due to previous convictions.  When those 
 previous arrests are convicted under the misdemeanor alternative, they 
 don't count.  Also it is appaling to me that any attack and/or assault 
 of a Police Officer is prosecuted as a misdemeanor simply because the 
 officer is aware enough not to allow him/herself to be injured in the 
 event.  It is funny how the same is not true for the assault of a 
 prosecuter.  reduction in violent crime can only be achieved if we do 
 three things.  Enforce the current immigration laws,secure the border 
 and prosecute existing state laws.  if criminals pay no penalty for 
 the crimes they commit, then why not commit them. Yes prosection of 
 crimes is costly up front, but once we set an example of strict 
 enforcement we will see a decline in the amount of crime comitted and 
 a drastic reduction in the money spent to prosecute and house felons.  
 This may mean more prisons, but the repeat offenders are locked up.  
 This means less property loss and less victims of violent crime.  You are also providing more  jobs, you just are moving money around to do it.
 The public is not aware of this.  This is all true and the felony 
 waiver policy of the Pima County Prosecutor's Office is public record.

 ..and yes, I am a cop and I will continue to do my job even if Barbara 
 Lawall fails to do hers.  Get this out to the people, make them aware, 
 they will be outraged, and they will listen and support you.

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