CRIMETALKAMERICA: 2011- VIOLENT WEEKS IN AMERICA

The 2011 year started off with a BANG!.. 14 law enforcement officers across America killed within the first 26 days. This represents almost double from the previous year in the same period of time. Every police officer knows the risk and danger of the work. They call it "On-The-Job" because its the only job that represents a thin line between community sanity and pure chaos. Each officer knows that behind every door may be a gun, a mad-man or even a family in distress. Many officers get hurt, not killed, during domestic violence incidents. They are called to the scene, not knowing what to expect.

In the State of Florida, they've taken the saddened lead for the most officers killed in the State across America to date. What a distinction any State does not want to have.

Serving Arrest Warrants for crimes such as Murder puts all involved in jeopardy. The problem with the Justice System is that most offenders which the police encounter on a daily basis are repeat offenders, parolee's or convicted felons who fail to appear for sentencing.

One must remember that the majority of prisoners incarcerated across America will return the the street, your community, and will have no place to go, no job, and often no way of re-entering to a productive life.Our prisons are nothing more than temporary warehousing, sleeping, feeding facilities, and then spit them out to the community which is often unaware, unprepared and even a target for new violence by these offenders. In one "Lock-Up" episode on cable T.V. a prisoner serving 25 years to life indicates; "that if a person serves more than ten years behind bars, he should not be put back on the streets." He may be right.

What has happened to the Three Strikes rule? Seems that over-crowding, costs and defenders or sympathizers of the recidivist offender over-rule the community interests. It appears that in the Miami-Dade killing of Officer Haworth and Castillo, the offenders mom was well aware he was in the house, opened the door and may have contributed to the death of the officers. Her son was wanted, she knew, the community knew yet they didn't call the police or arrange for his surrender. At 23 a violent repeat offender with several convictions and a history of violence, what was the Criminal Justice System thinking when they released him. Where was Probation, the Courts or even the Judges that marched him through the system as they do many others.

It's time to take an account of the actions of the Criminal Justice System, hold Judges, Parole Officers, and even Prosecutors accountable for short changing the community with plea bargains to increase their conviction rates, while allowing violent criminal back into the community without supervision.

Everyone is entitled to their day in court, a fair hearing, Constitutional protections and guarantees, but when an repeat violent offender appears before the court, a "NO PLEA BARGAIN" classification should be stamped on his file, so that the prosecutors and the courts understand the history of the individual.

We don't keep public records of the Judges that accept Plea Bargains for violent repeat offenders. The Criminal Justice System, including all the representatives of the Courts, Prosecutors, Parole/Probation do is make excuses after the fact. Meanwhile police officers are gunned down, children are left parent less, and all the money in the world collected and provided by police agencies, brother officers or the wonderful community cannot replace the loss of a father or mother.

Let's correct this problem and hold the Criminal Justice System accountable for their sloppy, inept and often mindless approach to Criminal Justice. The Lady of Justice is Blindfolded, as an indication of a fair and equal justice system, but the Judges, Prosecutors and Parole/Probation are not blind. Some appear to be inept.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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