Pubdate: Mon, 22 Nov 2004
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2004 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Note: from the Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DEPUTY PROSECUTOR SEEKS METH CRACKDOWN

He Aims To Curb Plea Agreements

LAGRANGE, Ind. - A deputy prosecutor is trying a new way to stop the 
infiltration of methamphetamine by eliminating plea agreements for suspects 
in meth cases.

LaGrange County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Greg Kenner is also refusing to 
offer plea agreements for cases that involve cocaine. Anyone facing meth 
charges in Superior Court, which Kenner handles, must plead to the most 
serious charge or take the case to trial.

"It's just a way to show people that we're serious about these drug cases 
because we're getting so many of them. And we're going to see how it goes," 
Kenner said. "We're just trying to make an impression."

The experiment, as LaGrange County Prosecutor Jeff Wible refers to the 
approach, is receiving mixed reviews around the state.

It's tough to stick to a no-plea-bargain policy, some prosecutors said. 
Some warned that incarceration is not the answer to the meth epidemic, 
while others favor the idea that offenders would be convicted of their 
original charges instead of agreeing to a lesser charge.

"In my opinion, that's why laws are put on the books," said Indiana State 
Police 1st Sgt. Dave Phelps. "If a lot of time we plead charges down, then 
they're not being used to their intent."

No other Indiana prosecutor has an official no-plea-deal policy in any 
specific kind of case, said Steve Johnson, executive director of the 
Indiana Prosecuting Attorney's Council.

Some say incarceration is not always the answer.

"The current penalties ... do not seem to be a deterrent to discourage 
people from doing it," said Larry Landis, executive director of the Indiana 
Public Defender Council. "We cannot afford to just wait and punish offenders."
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