02-10-2012, 03:12 AM
Thank you all for these comments, and hope Mr. Roth feels better soon. As we await his response to the specific case Mr. Carr and I are asking about, these are some of the factors I had to consider re: Prosecutor's office position...
The case the Prosecutor gets is only as good as the evidence they obtain from the police investigation. What can the Prosecutor do to assist the police department in the investigation stage? Too many cases are not charged nor prosecuted due to lack of evidence. The disconnect between the Prosecutor's office and the Police Department is a challenge that needs addressing.
Plea deals are an obvious necessity. My question in that regard is: What can the Prosecutor do to make sure the plea deal is served in it's entirety, and that the deal is, at the very least, "a punishment", not a sentence that is served when the criminal's schedule permits (fire capt. case...again.)? Firmly believe plea deals need more substance based on the crime committed.
As to "community service", who decides what the ultimate punishment is, and how do we address the perceived "slap on the wrist" outcome of some cases? Real community service should include assignments like: scrubbing toilets at the parks, picking up trash along the roadways, cleaning our beaches of debris, mopping the floors of our public schools, etc., or at least something worthwhile.
As a side question, how does one get bail for $50K for fighting outside a bar and someone dies, bails out, then intimidates a witness by beating him and gets $71K bail for kidnapping, etc. in the beating case? Perplexing (and very disturbing). ETA: Now being held without bail (per Hawaii Tribune Herald this morning)
In closing, one thing I have had to keep in mind as we go through this process of electing a new Prosecutor: In this small County, and State, I can't expect one person in one position to be held responsible for the egregious actions of other departments (and their personnel) that affect not only public safety, but the cases that ultimately are submitted to the Prosecutor's office. How does one overcome the "who knows who" and "who is related to who" syndrome that is prevalent, in order to make certain justice is served? Tall order, huh? (Apologies)
Mahalo for allowing me to share my thoughts. All the above in my opinion only.
The case the Prosecutor gets is only as good as the evidence they obtain from the police investigation. What can the Prosecutor do to assist the police department in the investigation stage? Too many cases are not charged nor prosecuted due to lack of evidence. The disconnect between the Prosecutor's office and the Police Department is a challenge that needs addressing.
Plea deals are an obvious necessity. My question in that regard is: What can the Prosecutor do to make sure the plea deal is served in it's entirety, and that the deal is, at the very least, "a punishment", not a sentence that is served when the criminal's schedule permits (fire capt. case...again.)? Firmly believe plea deals need more substance based on the crime committed.
As to "community service", who decides what the ultimate punishment is, and how do we address the perceived "slap on the wrist" outcome of some cases? Real community service should include assignments like: scrubbing toilets at the parks, picking up trash along the roadways, cleaning our beaches of debris, mopping the floors of our public schools, etc., or at least something worthwhile.
As a side question, how does one get bail for $50K for fighting outside a bar and someone dies, bails out, then intimidates a witness by beating him and gets $71K bail for kidnapping, etc. in the beating case? Perplexing (and very disturbing). ETA: Now being held without bail (per Hawaii Tribune Herald this morning)
In closing, one thing I have had to keep in mind as we go through this process of electing a new Prosecutor: In this small County, and State, I can't expect one person in one position to be held responsible for the egregious actions of other departments (and their personnel) that affect not only public safety, but the cases that ultimately are submitted to the Prosecutor's office. How does one overcome the "who knows who" and "who is related to who" syndrome that is prevalent, in order to make certain justice is served? Tall order, huh? (Apologies)
Mahalo for allowing me to share my thoughts. All the above in my opinion only.