Conviction push isn't always best justice
Judging from Daily Herald reporter Adam Kovac's Dec. 5 article, "Felony charges, convictions continue to go up in Kane County," I believe the law abiding need to be concerned in the way some prosecutors seek justice.
The article disclosed that the steady rise in Kane County felony cases is due, in part, to State's Attorney John Barsanti's decision not to follow the strict evidence requirements his predecessor, Meg Gorecki, required before authorizing felony charges.
Barsanti's paring down of some of his office's standards should be viewed as an erosion of the rights that had been set in place to protect the innocent.
One has to ask why.
Is seeking a 96 percent conviction rate and stating, "That's a pretty historical number," "I think that's a great conviction rate," or a "fantastic conviction rate," truly seeking justice or is it a politically motivated prosecutor playing a numbers game?
When you actually do the math, the 118 felony cases that actually went to trial in Kane County produced a 66 percent conviction rate.
The rest that plead guilty are no doubt influenced by the heavy sentences that accompany the "overcharging" that Barsanti has been criticized for, and not being able to afford a lawyer.
It's a fact that at least 75 percent of those in jail have drug and or alcohol addictions. Gorecki worked with former Judge James Doyle's drug court to help people straighten out their lives.
This was not liked by some defense attorneys who charged that Doyle was doing wrong.
Without the direction of a dedicated judge, those with addiction problems go back to crime and are easy pickin's for prosecutors and defense attorneys alike.
Gorecki was a professional prosecutor. She protected the rights of the accused, as any prosecutor should, knowing that they are innocent until proven guilty.
In our system of justice, if there is any doubt, a defendant should not be charged, let alone convicted.
In a perfect world, law enforcement officers do not lie, judges have no bias and jurors do not think that surely if he was arrested and charged, he must be guilty.
If we don't fight to protect our rights, we will gradually lose them to enterprising politicians.
Paula McGowen
Glen Ellyn