|
|
Article: PORTSMOUTH PROSECUTORS NOW TAKING MORE FELONIES TO TRIAL.(LOCAL)
- Article from:
- The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)
- Article date:
- October 24, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Virginian Pilot-Ledger Star. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the Dialog Corporation by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: EARLE C. MOBLEY
The question, ``Does anybody go to jail in Portsmouth?'' delivered last week by U.S. Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller, underscores a very real perception among many inside and outside law enforcement that criminals are given light sentences by Portsmouth judges.
Certainly, Judge Miller's exaggerated comment comes from this perception. Distinguishing perception from reality is a common conflict of reason, one to which even the most learned and educated among us sometimes fall prey.
His comment came up during bond hearings for suspects recently arrested for trafficking drugs in Portsmouth. The prior convictions of these ...