Pubdate: Sat, 26 Jun 2004 Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS) Copyright: 2004 The Clarion-Ledger Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805 Author: Clinton G. Herring Jr. Cited: http://www.safecityinitiative.com WE CAN REFORM OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SafeCity Initiative And Citizens Together Can Address Solutions SafeCity Initiative (safecityinitiative.com) exists to "bring assistance and accountability to the criminal justice system." The organization will, on an ongoing basis, identify specific challenges that face our criminal justice system and then implement initiatives that address the solutions. The first of these initiativesincludes the creation of a Centralized Criminal Justice Management System (CJMS), the reduction of the prosecutorial backlog that exists throughout Mississippi in the various district attorneys' offices, the reduction of the case load backlog in our court system and finally, an intelligent look at alternative sentencing plans. Citizens need to understand that law enforcement, prosecution, the courts and the corrections department are all dependent on one another. The CJMS would ensure that all criminal justice entities in Mississippi communicate real time, in a Web-enabled environment, on one data base platform. Such a system would close the "cracks" that the multiple felon criminals keep falling through. Such a system would actually aid in crime prevention, the most effective solution possible. Once a crime has been committed and the grand jury has decided to prosecute the charged individual, the criminal justice system must provide a fair and speedy trial. Too many jurisdictions in Mississippi have a backlog of cases. SafeCity Initiative has requested that the attorney general's office send special assistance on an ongoing basis to those jurisdictions that have unreasonable case backlogs. Some progress is being made, but Mississippi needs to more efficiently use the prosecutorial resources we have, at the direction of the attorney general's office if necessary. Assuming the prosecutor's problems are solved, the courts must provide speedy access to their system. SafeCity Initiative has requested the Supreme Court to send special judicial assistance on an ongoing basis to those areas in Mississippi that are having court backlog problems. This can be accomplished by utilizing judges in certain parts of the state with relatively light case loads to assist other parts of Mississippi that have a heavy backlog. Another false perception is that the only alternative to dealing with the crime situation is to lock up each and every person convicted for the maximum period of time. Mississippi is operating at maximum capacity. The Department of Corrections operates a system that is trying to cope with an out-of-control drug problem. Be soft on crime? Absolutely not. Instead, be more innovative in alternative sentencing. Sending a first time non-violent offender to prison might not be the option we wish to take as more alternatives for penalties, restitution and rehabilitation become available by statute. The alternatives in dealing with the current situation are by no means easy solutions. SafeCity Initiative intends to bring solutions to the forefront. But Mississippians must realize there is hope, and together we can make a difference. As a start, contact everyone you know in leadership in Mississippi and tell them you whole heartedly support SafeCity Initiative! Clinton G. Herring Jr., a Jackson real estate developer, is chairman of SafeCity Initiative. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin