Crime Statistics - Hawai'i County/Puna

[Chunkster]

Do not apologize for recognizing that we have a problem and need to do something about it. It was a useful rant. You are right about the justice system needing to go harder on criminals. Our prosecutor has been quoted as saying that for every person he sends to prison, they have to let some other criminal out. Rubbish! Those guys in Arizona will build and staff as many prison cells as we ask them to. Better yet, build them here and keep the money in the state. Kulani could be expanded. I know someone will come along shortly and say, "But how will we pay for this?" or "It's cruel to send them so far away." Well, look at it as an investment. Once the criminal element realize that they will be locked up for a very long time, they will be less inclined to rob, steal, rape and assault folks. That will make up for the expense of incarceration, which might become less necessary over time anyway.

If Mitch Roth wants to be a social worker, he should change jobs. I once asked a Puna Community Policing Officer why so many criminals got off so easily. His response was an eye opener. He said that the cops blame the judges for giving light sentences, the judges blame the prosecutors for not building stronger cases, and the prosecutors blame the police for not bringing them "perfect" evidence chains and arrest procedures. Am I the only one who sees a circular blame game going on here? The CPO went on to say that while most cops still try to get everything right, some have actually given up trying and just do the least they can to keep their jobs. Pretty sad, huh?

Now you know you're not the only one who will rant about this, Opihikao.