02-02-2012, 06:03 AM
Thank you, Mr. Roth, for responding, but I would ask the favor of some further clarification:
I understand that there are circumstances where plea bargains are in the interest of justice, and I did not mean to imply that they are always a bad idea. I do believe, however, that there have been too many with lenient sentences in Hawaii County, some in particularly noteworthy cases.
While you did provide what was, to me, clarification for the case quoted by Punawebber robguz, you did not address my example of the fire captain who killed while DUI, left the scene, lied about it, and got to serve a very lenient sentence on weekends. Please give us your point of view on this particular case.
In your response you say: "Another reason for plea bargains is that our prisons are overcrowded."
Well the folks who run private prisons in Arizona and elsewhere will gladly add beds to continue to handle our overflow. So overcrowding doesn't really impress me as a justification for plea bargains. For better or worse, the State has chosen to handle it on the mainland. Funding is more of an issue than space, but people who belong in prison need to be there, and we have to foot the bill, whether it's here or elsewhere.
You also mention the "congestion" in the Courts as another reason for plea bargains. The County Prosecutor is an elected official. As an elected official, it is part of the job to establish good working relationships with other elected officials who are in a position to expand the number of judges/courts. I suggest that you begin this process now by proposing concrete measures that would reduce the congestion.
Accountability for judges and the police is also an issue, but I don't expect you to deal with that on your own . . . at least not at this stage of things.
Again, thanks for responding. I await your reply to my follow-up.
Respectfully,
Jerry
I understand that there are circumstances where plea bargains are in the interest of justice, and I did not mean to imply that they are always a bad idea. I do believe, however, that there have been too many with lenient sentences in Hawaii County, some in particularly noteworthy cases.
While you did provide what was, to me, clarification for the case quoted by Punawebber robguz, you did not address my example of the fire captain who killed while DUI, left the scene, lied about it, and got to serve a very lenient sentence on weekends. Please give us your point of view on this particular case.
In your response you say: "Another reason for plea bargains is that our prisons are overcrowded."
Well the folks who run private prisons in Arizona and elsewhere will gladly add beds to continue to handle our overflow. So overcrowding doesn't really impress me as a justification for plea bargains. For better or worse, the State has chosen to handle it on the mainland. Funding is more of an issue than space, but people who belong in prison need to be there, and we have to foot the bill, whether it's here or elsewhere.
You also mention the "congestion" in the Courts as another reason for plea bargains. The County Prosecutor is an elected official. As an elected official, it is part of the job to establish good working relationships with other elected officials who are in a position to expand the number of judges/courts. I suggest that you begin this process now by proposing concrete measures that would reduce the congestion.
Accountability for judges and the police is also an issue, but I don't expect you to deal with that on your own . . . at least not at this stage of things.
Again, thanks for responding. I await your reply to my follow-up.
Respectfully,
Jerry