STATE DA ADVOCATE: CUTS WOULD BE 'TERRIBLE NEWS'

Cuts proposed in Tennessee's criminal justice system would force
courts and prosecutors to focus mostly on violent crimes in a system
with few resources to deal with lesser offenses such as DUIs, state
lawmakers were told yesterday.

"These proposed cuts are terrible news for victims of crime and
law-abiding citizens who want to see those who ignore the law
punished," said James "Wally" Kirby, executive director of the
Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, before the House
Finance Committee.

"It is great news for the mid- and lower-level crooks because their
cases, the non-violent drug offenses, burglaries, even DUIs, will get
very little attention or preparation."

Kirby presented the committee with options providing for cuts of $4.8
million from his budget of $38 million.

One option is to eliminate 78 assistant district attorney
positions.

"This would place us 220 prosecutors short of where we should be,"
Kirby said. "Most General Session courts would be without a
prosecutor. There will be no one to handle preliminary hearings except
for the most serious cases - murders, rape and the like."

Kirby noted that President Bush said in his latest televised address
that the first obligation of government is the safety of its citizens.

"Punishment is a deterrent to crime only if it is certain and swift.
With these reductions it won't be," he said.

A second option, he said, would be to eliminate all victim witness
coordinators statewide and eliminate 57 assistant district attorneys
positions.

Cutting back on services to victims would all but eliminate
notification of victims about their cases, he said.

"To require the district attorneys to choose either of these options
is irresponsible, legally questionable and morally reprehensible," he
said.

"The criminal justice system in Tennessee will be slowed to a snail's
pace."

The Finance Committee will wind up its hearings today with
presentations by the state departments of Transportation and of
Environment and Conservation.

The committee also plans to discuss state taxes it shares with cities
and counties.