The disposition of Ms. Johnson-Lee traffic citation is not unusual, nor a case of special consideration, and is an option that is readily available for "average" people. The MPLS city attorney�s office, and indeed all such venues, engages in discretionary prosecution. It is an expedient way of resolving too numerous traffic violations. The courts would be paralyzed if they prosecuted every violation.
On occasion the Henn. Co. Violation Bureau and prosecutors continue certain cases without pleas or CWOP for violators who have relatively clean driving records. It�s not an automatic process and should be negotiated (hence the attorney). Point is, you have to ask for it. This unfortunately sets up an ethical dilemma...violators who have extensive driving records are fined and/or jailed; those who do not are penalized to a lesser extent or not at all. Ideally, the value of prosecution is weighed to the expected outcome of such action. It is to societies greater benefit to punish/ rehabilitate those who routinely break the social contract (DWI, speeding, impeding traffic� etc) because they have harmed and will continue to harm the greater good of society. Those who had a momentary lapse should not suffer the same type of retributive justice. Under comparative justice all things, and people, should be equal. However, our experiences teaches us that clearly things are not. CWOP or plea bargins are not unique to Minneapolis; it is the current state of affairs of justice in America. The Supreme Court has affirmed plea bargains. They are inescapably tied into our �justice system�. This is neither an indictment nor a handbook as to how the justice system works. It�s some observations from the sidelines Ms. Johnson-Lee had her day in court�you can too. LT. G.W. Reinhardt MPD CODEFOR REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
