Pubdate: Tue,  5 Feb 2002
Source: Advocate, The (LA)
Copyright: 2002 The Advocate, Capital City Press
Contact:  http://www.theadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2

CRIME FIGHTING WITHOUT LICENSE

The arrest of more than 800 people across the state for alleged drug 
dealing is good news for law-abiding citizens. It's good news because it 
strikes at the drug manufacture and distribution networks that are 
devastating lives in our communities every day. And it's good news because 
it demonstrates a healthy willingness of law enforcement agencies to work 
together to strike at the drug trade.

We cannot help but find curious, though, the prominent presence of the 
state attorney general, Richard Ieyoub, at the announcement of the arrests.

"We're sending them a message we're going to run them out of the state of 
Louisiana. We're going to arrest them, and we're going to prosecute them," 
Ieyoub said.

If by "we" Ieyoub is referring to himself, he is perpetuating an incorrect 
notion of his office as a constitutionally designated crime fighter.

The framers of the 1974 constitution rejected broad criminal jurisdiction 
for the attorney general, who has vast authorized duties in the areas of 
civil law for the government. Except in certain specific areas, he is not 
authorized to initiate a criminal prosecution unless asked to do so by the 
local district attorney.

It is a division of labor intended to focus the attorney general on areas 
where he does not duplicate the effort of criminal justice authorities. 
Where he has criminal jurisdiction, it is in white-collar crime, such as 
Medicaid fraud and consumer protection.

Unfortunately, Ieyoub has not confined himself to his listed duties. A 
former district attorney in Calcasieu Parish, he campaigned for office with 
dramatic commercials about fighting crime, slamming prison doors and 
otherwise pretending to a role in criminal justice.

Thrice elected attorney general, Ieyoub has stressed expanding the scope of 
operations in the criminal division of the Attorney General's Office. 
Ieyoub said the programs are necessary, and provide vital assistance to 
local jurisdictions that frequently call for state aid in complex cases.

One of the most successful and popular programs, he said, is the computer 
crime unit, which provides local law enforcement and prosecutors with 
expertise in tracking child pornographers, or recovering data from computer 
disks.

For an elected official, the justification for these programs is 
popularity. Street-crime themes may have elected Ieyoub, but that's not the 
job that the attorney general ought to focus upon. Ieyoub is frequently 
mentioned as a likely candidate for governor next year, but his appearance 
with the Sheriff's Association drug task force announcement cannot be 
called an unusual bid for publicity: He's done this sort of thing all along.

If Ieyoub opts to run for governor, we hope candidates for his job will 
focus on what its role actually is.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D