Santa Cruz County, CA | March 7, 2000 Election |
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Laying Down the Law: taking domestice violence seriouslyBy Jeff BosshardCandidate for Judge of the Superior Court; County of Santa Cruz; Office 4 |
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The Law provides for the punishment of violent behavior. Some crimes don't merit a jail sentence, but Judges have to make it clear that violence will not be tolerated.Domestic violence has become an epidemic in this community. The high-profile Coronado case is just the tip of the ice-burg. Our judges are not taking this issue seriously. They administer a slap on the wrist and let the perpetrator go. They won't even give the DA and Probation workers the tools they need to make sure history does not repeat itself. Any sort of violent crime has to be handled with firmness the first time, so there won't be a second time. But we can be firm without being harsh. Too many defendants in many different kinds of criminal cases plead "guilty" or "no contest" for economic reasons -- they simply cannot afford to miss work long enough to have a fair trial. Or they do not understand or appreciate our culture which shuns domestice violence. We have to develop alternative programs to punish first time offenders, as our jails are not big enough to hold everyone who comes through the system. I will continue to work with leaders of the ethnic communities to make sure everyone is informed of our laws and customs, understands the legal system, and knows their legal rights. But those who insist on committing violent crime, violating the freedom and rights of others, will be appropriately punished according to law. |
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Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 4, 2000 09:04
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