Document text
CLEAR Temp: 83 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, July 9, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 30, 2003 Court cuts may have boosted crime Local shoplifting and car thefts rose sharply during a four-month delay in prosecutions By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Higher crime may be the result of Oregon’s cutback on court services as the state wrestles with a funding crisis. Certain property crimes, such as shoplifting and car thefts, are up significantly in Medford over last year. Police believe the increase may be the fallout of a stopgap budget measure that delayed the prosecution of these crimes by four months or more. "It validates a lot of the claims that when these budget cuts come, there will be a serious downside for the citizens," said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran. Advertisement Oregon’s courts in March stopped hearing misdemeanor property crimes, such as shoplifting, vandalism and writing bad checks. For still other crimes — including some felonies — the state has denied accused criminals court-appointed attorneys. In the absence of legal representation, defendants can’t be held in jail, and their cases can’t proceed in court. "The criminal justice system is all about consequences," Moran said. "And if there are no consequences, it seems logical that the deterrent factor would be removed." Total crime in Medford is up only about .2 percent compared to last year. But certain crimes that have fallen victim in the state’s budget reduction plan have increased sharply. Shoplifting is up 23 percent through May this year compared to last year, according to police records. In Portland, shoplifting had increased 10 percent for approximately the same period, according to the New York Times. Medford police have taken 21 percent more reports of bad checks written through May this year, and total counterfeiting and forgery cases in Medford have more than doubled. Car thefts have increased 41 percent in Medford, 19 percent in Portland. While that crime — a felony — can be prosecuted, the state is not appointing attorneys in those cases, and many defendants can’t afford their own. "The very first issue people have to face is public safety," said Bert Putney of the Southern Oregon Public Defenders Office. "It doesn’t do any good to have the schools open if they’re not safe." For the next two years, state courts are expected to receive a $292.3 million budget. The indigent defense budget, which pays for court-appointed attorneys, is expected to be about $169 million. Both budgets would adequately fund court and indigent defense operations, officials have said. In recent years, these items combined have made up about 3 percent of the state’s general fund, according to state court administrator Kingsley Click. Courts are set to resume normal operation today, and judges will once again appoint public defenders on all cases. But officials said they expect Oregon’s budget woes to have a lasting impact on the judicial system. In Jackson County, more than 500 criminal cases have been postponed since March, according to Bob Kleker, court operations supervisor. Court staff members have not tracked how many small claims cases were put off during that four-month period in another attempt to bolster the budget, Kleker said. But more than 7,000 such cases were filed in Jackson County last year, according to court statistics. "It’s still going to have a lingering effect over the next six months to two years until we get some of these things tried," Kleker said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. State courts resume normal hours Oregon courts today will resume normal hours after a four-month slowdown to balance the state budget. Trial and appellate courts are set to reconvene Fridays but won’t actually resume until July 11 because of the Fourth of July holiday. Courts have been closed on Fridays since March 1. Jackson County Circuit Court is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Small claims filings are accepted between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Jackson County Justice Building is at 100 S. Oakdale Ave. in Medford. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times