> We need laws passed that require jail time with no
> plea bargaining. Our laws need to be as strong as the
> laws of the states that surround us. Furthermore, the
> judges need to be held accountable to at least impose
> the minimum mandatory sentences. If we need more jails
> to hold criminals, then so be it. Until then, the
> inner-city neighborhoods will be the sacrificial jails
> inandated with people who have migrated here because
> we have the reputation of being soft on crime. "Do the
> crime, cuz you won't get no time".
>
> We have examples of criminals who have been arrested
> over 100 times and spent no time in jail. A big
> disconnect somewhere I think.
>
> Phillips has more meetings about crime and safety than
> any neighborhood I know. Between block clubs,
> neighborhood association crime and safety committees,
> weed and seed meetings and every other kind of meeting
> you can think of, the residents and business owners
> are doing their part. It's time for the city council,
> mayor, county commissioners, judges, attorneys, and
> legislators to do their part. As Jim Graham said "It's
> the law".
>
> We can start by eliminating the $186 booking fee the
> county charges the city to book criminals who are
> arrested. That is ridiculous!!!!!
>
> Barb Lickness
> Whittier
>
>
Housing criminals in our inner-city and calling their crimes something else
(addiction, economic injustice, racism, etc) and blaming suburban
republicans is easier then facing facts. Our inner-city neighborhoods are
"jail by other means". By housing the criminal in "Phillips jail" the cost
of incarceration is spread out in other, less accountable areas. It doesn't
show up on the city or county crime fighting budget. The costs are still
born by we the people. But the elected officials did not have to raise a
tax to pay for it. Thus no political consequences for cost of housing
criminals from that end.
Those elected officials directly representing Phillips or other inner-city
neighborhoods are the most adamant in opposition to more jail and prison
space. The new council members who represent these neighborhoods are
exempted. They are too new to pass opinion on. Their predecessors were not
exempted.
Craig Miller
Former Fultonite
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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