Contrary to popular belief, the district attorney’s office doesn’t spring into action the instant a crime occurs, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith explained this morning.
Because even suspected criminals have constitutional rights that include the right to bond out of jail, the district attorney’s office may not have an opportunity to make a case and bring scofflaws to justice.
That’s a cause of consternation for victims of crime who wonder why crimes aren’t prosecuted as often or as quickly as they should be, why many of the same people keep being arrested for committing the same crimes and why “the system” often seems unfair.
Essentially, Smith’s answer to questions along these lines from attendees at Koinonia Coffee House’s weekly Friday Forum: Help me help you.
One listener asked how his office can partner with schools to keep kids from ending up in the crosshairs of the county’s chief prosecutor. “We’re open to suggestions,” Smith said.
Smith took the opportunity to explain the nuances of prosecuting to community members who wanted to know more about how his office works. A victim of repeated break-ins asked him about the legality of booby-trapping his front door to injure would-be burglars.
“Man, you can’t do that,” Smith told him plainly.
Smith said many defendants make plea deals to avoid going to trial despite his office’s high conviction rate on the roughly 2,500 cases his staff of 14 prosecutors receives. He also works with the courts to offer alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenses and checking for undiagnosed mental illnesses that can be treated medically instead of with prison time.
“We have a high percentage of convictions, but we also try to save lives,” Smith said. “We know many, many kids who are on the path to go to the judicial system, but with a little help and a little guidance, they’ll be fine. “
Previous Comments
My, he’s coming out of his shell. Anyone know how to reach him and ask him to turn up at a few COPS meetings?
#165429 | Author: Pilgrim | Date: Nov 18 2011
Just call the DA’s office. We had him out to Precinct 2 and that is how we contact him.
#165430 | Author: BuyJxn | Date: Nov 18 2011
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.