Considering that just today at approximately 2:30pm I heard what could
have been shots fired, but didn't see anything, wasn't sure and didn't
call, I think a properly installed system would be rather effective. It
seems like it is an effective use of technology.
I still have concerns about what happens once the criminal is
apprehended. Will he or she do the time? At our recent Crime and Drug
meeting, committee members discussed establishing a court watch. The
idea is to identify the important cases coming before the courts and to
show up to give the victims and the affected residents a voice. It's
time intensive and I would guess a bit boring at times.
One surprising piece of information I learned at the meeting was that
with drug crimes, which are expedited to a special court, any prior
violations are lumped in to the sentence for the drug crime as time
served. This means if the crook in drug court also committed larceny,
burglary and vandalism he or she usually doesn't have to serve time for
each and every one of those crimes by adding it on to the end of the
sentence for the drug offense. They get to serve the time at the same
time as the drug sentence.
Doesn't seem fair does it?
If you or I were to show up at the trial and demand accountability for
the other crimes, perhaps 1+1+1+(drug offense time) would in fact equal
3+(drug offense time) and not just drug offense time.
--
Scott Moore
Lyndale
612.791.2333
Happy Accident Productions, LLC
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