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.