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Detroit to Stop Prosecuting "Low-priority Crimes"

Posted by samzenpus on from the fend-for-yourselves dept.

Wayne county prosecutor Kym Worthy has told commissioners that proposed budget cuts won't allow the her office to prosecute low-priority crimes like breaking and entering. "We can't even cover our courtrooms anymore. At some point, if the budget continues to be cut, we're going to have to start making decisions about what crimes we prosecute," Worthy said. The county is facing a $105-million deficit in its 2009-10 budget. This might not be so bad. There is almost nothing worth breaking into or stealing in Detroit anyway.

17 comments

  1. Except music by davidwr · · Score: 3, Funny

    Lots of Motown is worth "stealing"*.

    *as defined by the RIAA

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  2. The link in the article doesn't point to anything by Bitch-Face+Jones · · Score: 1

    what gives

  3. low priority by sjames · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because, of course, privately selling illegal drugs to adults who have chosen to use them, and actually using those drugs in private is far more harmful to society than making people feel unsafe in their own homes.

    If they would just forget about the prohibition laws except when violence or adults selling to kids is involved, they'd have plenty of budget to deal with the crimes where there is a victim.

    1. Re:low priority by Maximum+Prophet · · Score: 3, Interesting

      But, then Detroit would become the Vegas of the east. Not such a bad plan...

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    2. Re:low priority by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Vegas of the Midwest. maybe. Duh.

    3. Re:low priority by religious+freak · · Score: 1

      Damn, I just used my last mod point on an ok post on a different thread - who knew I'd be bored enough to actually check out some idle stuff. Good point, sir!

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    4. Re:low priority by noundi · · Score: 1

      That is one way of doing it. Another way is to actually fund the police departments by raising taxes. Initially people will bitch and moan but spending a lifetime not getting shot in the face makes it well spent money for anyone.

      However a combination of both strategies is the third hidden option.

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      I am the lawn!
    5. Re:low priority by Kokuyo · · Score: 1

      Why raise taxes? There is so much government bloat that just by using your effing BRAIN you could probably save millions that are going to waste right now.

      Before I am willing to pay more taxes, my government should first prove that they are willing and able to keep a budget and actually run a country instead of patching holes left and right.

    6. Re:low priority by noundi · · Score: 1

      Well I'm merely providing means to fix the issue at hand. If you consider your government incompetent perhaps you should vote for another one and hope that they can spend the budget wiser. And if that doesn't work you might consider higher taxes the lesser of two evils. I mean it still beats getting shot in the face any day.

      --
      I am the lawn!
  4. Its time to privatize law enforcement in Detriot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    What could go wrong?

  5. almost nothing nothing by clobberfoe · · Score: 1

    Argh. There may be comparatively little to steal, but we care a lot about what we do have.

  6. Financial Responsibility. by Banichi · · Score: 1, Troll

    Michigan's government doesn't have it.

    If elected State officials announced a pay cut, down to minimum wage across the complete State government employee spectrum, a lot of money would become available.

    And maybe we could get the Federal government to follow suit.

    1. Re:Financial Responsibility. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And maybe you're an astronaut.

  7. Fire the Vice Squad! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you want "low priority" crimes, think of victimless crimes like prostitution -- and yes, drugs involving only adults. Things that are only "crimes" because somebody passed a law against them. Seems to me that breaking and entering is far more worthy of being prosecuted, since it involves harm to people other than those voluntarily participating.

    But of course the elected officials would never think of this, prosecution of Vice generates too many good headlines that help them get reelected.

  8. woot! by catthedd · · Score: 1

    Time for a career change apparently, screw McDonalds!

  9. Re:Its time to privatize law enforcement in Detrio by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Drugs ... gambling ... prostitution. Virgin territory for a man who knows how to open up new markets.