INC NEWS - Judicial Crisis

[Newman Aguiar]

A few days ago, the NC Senate presented their budget for 2005-2007.  Not
only did the Senate fail to address the critical resource insufficiency that
exists within the judicial system - significant enough to have created a
crisis in Durham - in their wisdom they have reduced or cut funding for Drug
Treatment Court, Family Court and Dispute Settlement Centers.  The
responsibility for properly funding the judicial system falls squarely on
the State, with no one else to blame.  From this budget, I believe it is
reasonable to conclude that the State has little or no interest in
protecting the citizens of North Carolina, let alone the citizens of Durham.

 

Durham has an impressive list of committed individuals and groups that have
been working to reduce crime.  Together we have made great progress at the
grass roots level; however, if we do not address the crisis in our judicial
system, in spite of the valiant efforts of our community and law
enforcement, we will continue to lose significant ground and our families
will continue to be victimized by habitual criminals.  Is it reasonable to
expect these hardened criminals to change their ways, particularly if they
know there is no consequence for their actions?  We depend on our judicial
system to hold offenders accountable for their actions.  How can the courts
in Durham act responsibly on our behalf, when the State fails to provide the
necessary resources to address the existing case load?

 

The Durham Roundtable has presented a well thought-out proposal to help us
address the judicial crisis in Durham.  If you have not already sent in your
letter of support, please do so now.  Also, please encourage your neighbors
and friends to do the same.  The Roundtable has made it as easy as possible
for you to help.  Go to   http://www.durhamroundtable.org/iwant.aspx and
click on each of the e-mail links.  I encourage all the PACs and INC to
draft resolutions in support of the Roundtable's proposal.  Encourage your
neighborhood association and civic groups to take up the cause.  Now is the
time for action, before the budgets are set.  We cannot wait another year or
two.  We must make it clear to our leaders that the judicial crisis must be
addressed now.

 

I know there are many in our community who have much experience and many
good ideas on how we can come together and require the State to live up to
its responsibility.  Whether it is through letter and e-mail campaigns,
community marches on Raleigh, vigils or whatever organized efforts we can
bring to bear, we must make it clear to our representatives that they cannot
get away with ignoring this crisis.  It is important for us to begin an
active discussion on all the things we can do as individuals and groups to
ensure that this crisis is resolved.

 

How many more families are to be touched by crime before the State will live
up to its responsibility?  I, for one, am not prepared to wait for the State
to be a responsible guardian of its citizens.  I believe the price we are
paying in loss of life and property is too high.  I am committed to doing
what I can and I hope you will be too.  We cannot afford the alternative.

 

Sorry about the lengthy post.

 

Newman

 

See, http://www.herald-sun.com/state/6-604190.html for the Herald-Sun's
highlights of the state budget.

 

See, http://www.legislature.state.nc.us/ for the entire budget from the
General Assembly's website.

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.deltaforce.net/mailman/private/inc-list/attachments/20050508/c4702ed7/attachment.htm