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• 2009Apr22 Some Crime Is Okay

 Budget cuts are getting out of hand. As Mr. Lee reports, in Contra Costa County, CA the decision has been made to cut the budget of the County Prosecutor’s Office.  The result of the cuts is fewer deputy district attorneys, so District Attorney Robert Kochly made the decision to prioritize what crimes would be prosecuted and which ones would not.  Mr. Lee writes:

 “District Attorney Robert Kochly also said that beginning May 4, his office will no longer prosecute felony drug cases involving smaller amounts of narcotics. That means anyone caught with less than a gram of methamphetamine or cocaine, less than 0.5 grams of heroin and fewer than five pills of ecstasy, OxyContin or Vicodin won't be charged.

 People who are suspected of misdemeanor drug crimes, break minor traffic laws, shoplift, trespass or commit misdemeanor vandalism will also be in the clear. Those crimes won't be prosecuted, either.” Henry K. Lee: San Francisco Chronicle

 The implications are clear.  If you want to speed, pick up a few things at the store without paying, destroy (within reason) your neighbor’s property, or carry around your favorite illegal substance (just not too much), then you now have a new destination!  The problem for anyone relying on this, of course, is that it probably will not last.

 Contra Costa County is in the same shape as many cities, counties, and states around the nation.  There is simply not enough funding available to continue the level of services that these entities used to provide.  Something has to give.  It takes pain and effort to arrive at a solution with which everyone can live.  Before that time, there is usually a period of denial followed by unintended consequences.  Many cities and states have been claiming that if they just get a little bit more funding, they will be fine.  They won’t.  That only works if the current fiscal situation is temporary, which it is not.  This new economic season requires true change to a lower level of services.  Getting there will not be easy.  Before the final changes come through, which most likely will be a reduction in unionized personnel, there will be examples of unintended consequences such as criminals being told, before the crime, “You have nothing to fear.”  Unfortunately, for the time being the residents of Contra Costa County probably do.