SENDING FELONS TO PRISON IN PORTSMOUTH

A federal judge threw down the gauntlet to law enforcement officials in
Portsmouth a few months ago, criticizing the way so many serious criminals
avoided prison time. The comments may spur Portsmouth to get serious about
keeping criminals behind bars. Last October, U.S. Magistrate Judge Tommy E.
Miller was presiding at bond hearings for drug trafficking suspects and
began to notice a pattern in the records. Many of the suspects had been
convicted in Portsmouth courts but had received little or no prison time.

For example, Thomas E. Starks already had racked up two felony convictions
and 19 misdemeanor convictions before pleading guilty to federal charges.
``Does anybody go to jail in Portsmouth?'' Miller queried. `` . . . Perhaps
if somebody went to jail over there, we wouldn't be acting as the
Portsmouth drug court.'' It was a stinging -- but fair -- rebuke. Miller
elaborated on those comments last week, in a healthy give-and-take with
Portsmouth's bar association.

Commonwealth's Attorney Earle Mobley, who became Portsmouth's top
prosecutor last year, pledged to accept fewer plea bargains than before, as
a way of increasing jail time.

Mobley inherited a mess from former Commonwealth's Attorney Martin Bullock.
His office repeatedly missed Virginia's speedy-trial deadline. Between 1995
and 1997, Bullock allowed at least 40 suspects to walk free on criminal
charges.

Judges in Portsmouth Circuit Court also must accept their share of the
blame for past sentencing, because they appear to have been too lenient.
Law enforcement officials say that since Miller's rebuke, the thugs in
Portsmouth are getting a rougher ride in court. By pointing out
shortcomings that undermine public safety, Miller served an important
public service.