Want to break the law? Go to Contra Costa County

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/21/BAK9176EGO.DTL&tsp=1

Misdemeanors such as assaults, thefts and burglaries will no longer be prosecuted in Contra Costa County because of budget cuts, the county's top prosecutor said Tuesday.

 

Shoplifting?

Hmmm, this could get interesting.

 

Assaults are misdemeanors? Simple assaults, I'm assuming. Wow.

 

Good to see they're not abidcating ALL of their responsibility:

Are you fucking kidding me? How the fuck can a public official just turn off the lights like this? And if the county ever does get its budget right, do they seriously think they can suddenly start prosecuting this stuff again? Once you go through that door, there ain't no going back.

 

I'm also wondering how long before they throw the book at some shopkeeper or home owner who blows away some meth head during a robbery or burglary.

 

Good point. some addict breaks into home/store, steals a bunch of stuff, police won't act. So next time, the owner goes postal and blows the punk away with his own gun.

Now what a mess you have on your hands?

 

I'm guessing this is just a power play by the D.A. Other department can bitch and moan about cuts, services they'll no longer provide, class size going up, people they'll no longer help and its white noise. The D.A. does it and people feel threatened. It's really a joke because Contra Costa County isn't exactly a poor county. It has a few rough areas, but mostly middle to upper middle to upper class.

 

Great. That county will be in flames by the end of the month.

 

Sweet, I've been wanting a new flat screen TV. Make it out the door and it's all your's.

 

WOLVERINES!

 

Even if it is, that D.A. needs to be fired and/or prosecuted himself. By telling the criminal element that they'll get a free pass on damn near everything (oh, wait, they'll consider prosecuting such faux pas as DUI and manslaughter if they're in a good mood), you're clearly endangering public safety. You know, the thing this guy was hired to protect. Not only that, but it makes the police completely impotent and puts a target on their backs. I'm guessing he won't get the coveted PBA endorsement if he makes it to his next re-election campaign.

 

This screams of a power play, as previously mentioned, but I agree it endangers public safety. Criminals who hear the news might not be checking the internet every day to see if policy has changed.

Things like this make you wonder where on earth the money goes. Sales and income taxes are through the roof out in Calif. and this is what we all get for it.