DEFENDANTS SEEKING HELP DO BETTER

The letter "Defense can't be prosecutor's puppet" misinterprets the
slogan on my campaign signs: "End the revolving door system!"

He states that our local justice system is racist and that having an
"anti-drug crusader" like me would hurt "minority defendants who have
suffered under police discrimination."

The public defender's office can do more to prevent crime than any
other government agency. The majority of people who enter the justice
system are nonviolent offenders who have substance-abuse or
mental-health issues. Substance abuse drives the entire system.

There are many wonderful programs and counselors in our community to
help people get off drugs and improve their lives. In my practice, I
have tried to steer my clients into these programs before their cases
go to court. If they can take the steps necessary to turn their lives
around, it is far less likely incarceration will be necessary and it
is far more likely they will not come back into the system.

There are people who are wrongfully accused and have been subject to
illegal searches and seizures. Of course, the office must aggressively
defend their rights. However, this is a small percentage of the people
in the system. The majority of people I represent are minorities. Most
don't come to me alleging racial discrimination by the police. They
come to me wanting help. I direct the people who most need help to the
people most able to provide it.

If we do that on a larger scale, we can begin to stop the revolving
door.

Ron Filipkowski

The writer is a candidate for public defender in the 12th Judicial
Circuit. He resides in Sarasota.