Pubdate: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2008 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Note: Does not publish letters from writers outside area AT RISK: JUSTICE IN FLORIDA On Tuesday, we editorialized about how the Legislature wants to march Florida off a cliff when it comes to health care. Today, the subject is the court system, but the destination is the same. Unwilling to consider any idea for new revenue or any alternative that might prevent the calamity ahead, legislators are debating budget cuts that would make Floridians less safe and throw sand in the gears of the justice system. The House and Senate have different budget numbers, but all of them are lousy. For starters, the state could lose one-third of all probation officers. Just last year, Gov. Crist's priority was his so-called "Anti-Murder Bill," under which many more people who violate probation could be jailed until a judge decides their fate. With fewer officers checking, it would be much harder to keep track of the roughly 150,000 people who are under some form of supervision. Prosecutors also face reductions. Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer already has dissolved many specialty units that focused, among other things, on crimes against children. The cuts could force Mr. Krischer to lay off 12 prosecutors, or about 12 percent of those now working. It's a good bet that the bad guys haven't agreed to commit 12 percent fewer crimes. The Legislature's answer for now is to balance those cuts with money from higher costs of prosecution. But the amount is uncertain, and it would take months for the money to start flowing. A spokesman for Mr. Krischer says the Legislature is trying to work out that "bridge." Of course, Mr. Krischer had been using part of that money for the enlightened purpose of treating nonviolent drug offenders. Without that money, untreated addicts will commit crimes to support their habit. The House ($26 million) and Senate ($20 million) are debating cuts that would force court administrators to lay off between 400 and 600 people statewide. If that happens, Floridians with landlord-tenant or divorce issues would have to wait months for a resolution, if it came. The courts' priorities would be major crimes and major litigation. No, it doesn't make sense for the legislative branch to cripple the judicial branch. But the Legislature probably calculates that the pain from these cuts won't be felt until after the November election, so Tallahassee can deal with the damage next year. A responsible Legislature would prevent the damage. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake