Justice in Hamilton County

By Eve Bolton

Currently, the Public Defender, the Coroner, and the Prosecutor face lawsuits for which we taxpayers are going to foot the bill. It's time to fix the broken system and end the institutional corruption and personal arrogance that one party rule has caused.

The Prosecutor's office, which includes more attorneys than either Franklin or Cuyahoga counties, both of which are larger counties, is nothing more than a Republican pipeline to power. One only had to attend the Harvest Home Parade to see patronage on parade. There were probably more Assistant Prosecutors in the parade on that Thursday night than there were Assistant Prosecutors in Court on Friday. The Public Defender's office is unavailable for felony defenses and is being sued for it's performance in misdemeanor cases. The Coroner has so poorly managed his staff that his office has lost all credibility with both law enforcement and the minority community.

We propose on behalf of the taxpayers and all the people of Hamilton County:

• the Prosecutor's office eliminate patronage, move to an all professional civil service office and become an equal opportunity employer.

• the Public Defender's office be fully funded and staffed to handle both felonies and misdemeanors, instead of the private court appointed lawyers that currently handle all felonies to the tune of $4.1 million in 2003 and is on pace to top $5 million in 2004.

• a new jail devoted entirely to drug related offenses so that the existing jails can house all other convicted persons or others awaiting trial. We've created drug courts. Let's have drug jails. A new drug jail will be cheaper to construct and can more successfully focus on rehabilitation, not only incarceration.

• it's time for the Commissioners to exert oversight and to tell the courts of Hamilton County to build in 15% to 20% more court time into there dockets and work a five day week and an eight hour day.

• the Auditor should be given broader investigative power.

• the Commission must exercise oversight of the criminal justice system regardless of what party rules.