I have to say that I am not a fan of this tactic. I vehemently disagree with the D.A’s office conduct, but I think the only entity who should be able fire her are the ones who hired her: The Voters. The Gov stepping in should be only in cases of actual fraud or corruption. Failing to prosecute for social Justice reasons is 100% wrong, but does not rise to the level of removal. Beat her at the ballot box. ‘It is the loss of democracy’: Monique Worrell responds to her suspension as state attorney
Is there any truth she dropped all charges to 50% of her cases and that was highest in the state ? Curious what those stats are ? Do they publish ? And I agree about elections Vs removal
I looked even deeper into this Viel guy. The State Attorney's Office and court actually put out a warrant for his arrest months before he shot police officers. Police officers encountered him, he ran, and they failed to apprehend him. So instead of blaming SA Worrell, should we blame the police? Daton Viel: Florida man accused of shooting 2 Orlando officers was awaiting trial for allegedly raping girl He was on probation for several other crimes at the time of that arrest. He was released from jail on a $125,250 bond. According to court documents, he had a GPS monitor that he cut off, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Documents show on June 30, UCF Police spotted the red car with a stolen license plate on campus and identified Viel as the driver. The UCF police officer discovered that Viel had a warrant out for his arrest and attempted to arrest him. Viel started running and the police officer went after him but slipped into the wet grass and he got away. Ultimately Viel was able to get back in his car and speed away. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Additionally, you noted that Viel was on probation. I looked into that. The court dismissed the violation of probation charge from the SAO because it held that the new law violation you're referencing (the sexual assault) occurred before Viel was put on probation.
No, it wasn't 50% of cases. And in the figure you're citing, they're counting diversion programs, the majority of which were used for misdemeanor cases. The voters fully supported that when they elected her. And if your goal is reducing crime, diversion programs are a great idea: Diversion Programs Are a Smart, Sustainable Investment in Public Safety | Vera Institute A 2018 study in Harris County, Texas, found diversion programs decreased the probability of a person’s future conviction by 48 percent 10 years after participation and improved employment outcomes by 53 percent over the same period. During its first two years, Community Works West’s RCC program diverted 102 youth (45 percent Black and 33 percent Latinx) who would have otherwise been placed on probation. These participants were 44 percent less likely to be charged with another crime compared to youth who were on probation, and the program was also more cost-effective. Nationally, youth diversion programs are on average 10 percent more effective in reducing future contact with the criminal legal system compared to conventional prosecution. In one study, young people going through standard prosecution were more than twice as likely to be rearrested than people who were diverted.
It would be interesting to hear the opinions of the shooting victims families who died or were injured by thugs that were let out by Ms Worrell after violent crimes they had committed.
Exactly. I hear echos of the histrionic outcry over Cook County SA Kim Foxx and nol pros of cases (in relation to the Jussie Smollet case), as if prosecutors never np'd cases until she took office or that it's somehow unique that folks accused of violent offenses sometimes don't get prosecuted. Never mind details or how the system operates. Just react with rage!
I thought the police weren’t allowed to apprehend fleeing subjects. A lot of the street thugs with dropped charges are because the victims and witnesses will not show up in court, because they are also living thug life.
I think that case was different. There was evidence of some behind the scene crap. One of the judges on that case is a VERY good judge. I have appeared before him 100s of times when he was in the civil division. I believe he was the one that permitted the special prosecutor and removed Kim. Kim was not removed from her position, she was just removed from one case. BTW, Kim is despised by most attorneys in Chicago.
I hear you. Just to be clear, I referenced Smollett because that was the case leading to the hoopla and many dubious or context free claims about Foxx regarding NPs and other ways cases don't get prosecuted. As you know, cases, even homicide and other serious cases involving violence get dismissed etc. for various reasons. Happens around the country in every jurisdiction since the inception of courts. Not saying that Smollet's case was proper (prior to the special prosecutor), just that it's not unusual as some folks seem to think
Police have 2 roles in our society - crime and social hierarchical control. An SA's performance on the first is irrelevant, though it will be statistically brandished. But performance on the latter is all that really matters. And that is the covenant she violated. DeSantis and Judd types don't really care if alternative methods reduce crime or are equally effective but more humane. The social control, especially if it can be performatively demonstrated, is what matters to them.
If they live in Orange or Osceola County, they get a vote. There's not a state attorney in Florida who can say that their office has never had a person out on bail or a person they dropped charges against subsequently commit a violent crime. It's simply a reality of the job. Anyone who is using that as a justification for removing Worrell is either ignorant or dishonest.
There is a reson that prosecutors have a 95% conviction rate...because they get to exercise their "discretion" and not prosecute the cases that aren't slam dunks. So you are 100% correct. Prosecutorial (and judicial) discretion is in every criminal courthouse, and its not a bad thing when used properly.....but it festers corruption.
Interesting how ‘Der Fuhrer’ is pledging, if elected POTUS, to root out antisemitism in third world countries.
Indeed. You might have some insight on it, but one of the *black boxes* in cj is more about prosecutorial discretion than judicial discretion because prosecutorial decisions are hidden away for the most part. Either way, it can certainly fester corruption.
yep. These types of attacks on officials are so stupid and baseless….and in this case unnecessary to make the op’s point.
So the new DeSantis appointee sent the cops to the house of SA Worrell's chief of staff to try and get information (social media passwords) and give her paperwork that she'd been fired. This woman was on maternity leave, and the DeSantis appointee (Bain) had actually attended her baby shower. Pathetic behavior.
