JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST GET BACK TO BASICS

Our position is: Comprehensive measures are needed to ensure safety
and efficiency in criminal case processing.

Sunday's look at Marion County jail overcrowding by Star reporters
made one thing perfectly clear:

This crisis is not just about too few jail beds, if it ever was. It's
about a criminal justice system that has so many systemic problems
that it will require a comprehensive solution, and lots of money, to
fix them.

Indianapolis is reaping the consequences of years of neglect of the
criminal justice basics. For example, the computer systems linking the
courts and justice agencies are so outmoded that it's almost
impossible to quickly assess who's in the lockup and jail, who's
dangerous and who can be put back on the street.

That has contributed to the ongoing game of Russian roulette with
early prisoner releases, as was the case on July 25 when overcrowding
forced a judge to let 95 inmates out early. One of them was later
arrested on suspicion of involvement in a murder.

He should not have been a candidate for early release, under any
circumstance. The suspect, Cornelius Cooper, had served nearly a year
in a Kentucky prison for manslaughter, according to The Star's
research. At the time of his release, Cooper was being held on dealing
and possession of cocaine. Judge William Young could have and should
have found more suitable candidates for early release.

A similar mishap occurred Aug. 10 when a 31-year-old Northwestside man
was shot by a suspect who police believe had been released early in
June.

Overcrowding at the lockup and jail won't be easily overcome.
Officials must adhere to a federal judge's cap of 297 in the lockup
and push prisoners through a jail system that doesn't have enough beds
for the number of people being arrested.

Sheriff Jack Cottey and others think a new $12 million arrest
processing center that would cost about $4 million a year to run could
help. If it expedites the front end of the arrest-to-initial hearing
stage of the process, it would be a welcome addition to the system.

But as The Star's stories point out, a new jail processing center
won't add beds, reduce the number of people who are arrested
repeatedly, unclog overburdened courts or create more capacity in
limited work release, home detention or drug deferment programs.

Nor will it update the obsolete JUSTIS computer system, which has made
it hard for judges to track cases. Only money and collaboration will
solve that.

A long-term plan is needed to address all these things
simultaneously.

To that end, The Star's editorial page and Channel 13 will host a
public meeting where community leaders will talk about the issue, on
Oct. 1 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Old Centrum, corner of 12th Street
and Central Avenue.

One thing all parties should agree on now: Releasing violent inmates
from jail is not the solution.