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Early
Release of Criminals
Mark
Y. Avelli
11/20/2002
Early release of
criminals, and the appalling overcrowding at the County Jail has received
much publicity from the local news media. While the power structure
convenes and dances around the issue, scant thought is given to those
factors in place that created the problem. I submit that all those members
of the Bar defending the current inefficient judicial system, are mostly
responsible for the existing chaos. Until innovative modifications are
adopted, the chaos continues, like nuclear fission, self-sustaining.
Resistance to change by the judiciary is exceeded only by that prevalent
in some religions. One speculates that the major cause of overcrowding is
the 6 to 9 month average incarceration time between the arrest and court
trial of those unable to post bail. The cost is staggering. Perhaps the
Court House can make this data known.
The courts must become more efficient. For example, when selecting jurors,
the slate of candidates should be reduced to about 15 people. Attorneys
should be allowed no more than one hour to select a jury. This time can be
reduced even further by adopting a system using professionally trained
volunteers selected from the vast number of retired well educated
residents who are not prone to be bamboozled by the trickery and
histrionics practiced by many members of the bar. I would bet that, on
average, the intellectual level of those now chosen for jury duty is lower
than those from the same pool who were not selected to serve.
Judges in turn can hasten the process by exercising their power to curtail
those barristers who use the court as a training ground to practice and
hone their thespian bent. But, unless changes are made soon in an obsolete
judicial system, you can expect that issuing bonds or higher taxes for
building more jails will be the conventional solution handed down by some
learned member of the bar. The status quo remains intact, and the process
will be repeated in a few years.
Mary Y. Avelli
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