Local law powers shouldn't match feds

I'm a strong proponent of our system of checks and balances in government. That is why alarm bells went off when I learned that the Illinois Reform Commission was proposing new legislation that would give state and local law enforcement agencies powers similar to the federal authorities, that allows use of wiretapping in public corruption cases. In theory this could have merit, but in reality this could have adverse ramifications. Power shouldn't be taken lightly, especially political power. As it is, some ambitious prosecutors are overzealous and use their high-profile cases for the publicity it brings. If anything, prosecutors need to be limited use of their powers.

Unscrupulous prosecutors can lead an unknowing grand jury down a path to indict an innocent man. Unsuspecting grand jury members often have the belief that the prosecutor wouldn't be conducting the proceedings if the suspect wasn't guilty. Somehow the presumption of innocence has been lost. An alternative to a grand jury hearing is an open court probable cause hearing heard by a judge. This hearing at least affords the accused the opportunity to have the witnesses against him questioned by his legal council.

In today's courtrooms you have many judges who were former prosecutors. Judges have the power and responsibility to protect an innocent defendant's right to a fair and impartial trial; yet how can you explain so many innocent men put on death row in Illinois?

Political prosecutors don't have the professionalism that career federal authorities possess. The pressures of running for elective office, fundraising and a patronage office doesn't bode well for local prosecutors' credibility in protecting individual rights. Wide sweeping wiretapping powers for local prosecutors, I'm afraid, would be a recipe for disaster, with the potential for abuse far outweighing the potential for good.

Paula McGowen

Glen Ellyn