Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) Copyright: 2002 Chattanooga Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992 Website: http://www.timesfreepress.com/index.html FOR YOUR SAFETY The No. 1 responsibility of government is to provide for your safety and security. Our federal government does it through national defense, as it is doing now in the war against terrorism, and enforcing our federal laws. State and local governments meet their responsibility through policing, prosecuting and imprisoning criminals. Rudy Giuliani became famous as mayor of "ungovernable" New York City by getting tough on petty, as well as major, criminals. He and New Yorkers found that when there was tough prosecution of small-time criminals -- ranging from jumpers of subway turnstiles to shoplifters to panhandlers harassing pedestrians -- all crimes, including the big ones, declined. The people of New York City became safer -- and enjoyed feeling more secure. Just six! So his staff of 19 prosecutors (14 funded by the state, five by the county) and other attorneys general across Tennessee know they could do a better job protecting you from crime if they had more prosecutors. They also know Tennessee's financial crunch makes this a tough time to be asking the Legislature for more. But they are asking for one-third (47) of the 142 additional prosecutors they would like to have statewide to safeguard us better. They are convinced that shortening the time between offense and trial would greatly reduce crime. Mr. Cox, Knox County Attorney General Randy Nichols and Shelby County Attorney General William Gibbons came to the newspaper this week to spread that message. They report that much crime is committed by repeaters, and that 80 percent of crime is committed by people on drugs or alcohol, often to get money for more drugs and alcohol. You can understand why the attorneys general want more prosecutors to safeguard us better. Their proposal would cost $3 million a year. They also are bidding for some of the future "tobacco settlement money" for treatment of drug and alcohol addicts through drug courts. They want legislators to vote stiffer penalties for anyone who uses a gun in committing a crime. That would mean more prison time and would cost about $27 million a year. They also urge enactment of a "street terrorism bill" to increase sentences when violent crimes are committed by three or more people in concert. The cost would be about $8.5 million a year. Tax money being short, the attorneys general won't get all they want to increase your safety. But we all should know what's needed. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake