Now is the Time to Commit a Crime…Budget Cuts mean Slower Prosecution…Slower Justice

Now is the Time to Commit a Crime…

Budget Cuts mean Slower Prosecution…

and Slower Justice

by Lamar B. Lackey, Founder

Foundation for Fiscal Social Physical

Accountability and Responsibility

http://www.FSPAR.org

A couple of weeks ago, it was announced that the Judiciary of the State of Alabama was eliminating 150 jobs throughout the State.  35 jobs were eliminated in my home county, Jefferson County. 

How does all this impact you and me?  Very simple:  SLOWER JUSTICE.

The justices, judges and remaining support staff won’t be working longer and harder.  Instead, trial dates will be pushed back and the backlog of cases will become larger.

This has already happened in Jefferson County, where the Gabe Watson murder trial has been “indefinitely postponed” due to budget cuts. 

But this isn’t limited to criminal prosecution.  Take, for example, personal injury cases.  Insurance companies will be able to hold on to their money longer, while the injured – who may truly need the money – suffer longer. 

It’s time to use some of the principles I used when turning around troubled companies and applying them to our judicial system. 

We need to identify inefficiencies and eliminate them through centralization, standardization, collective bargaining of goods and services and economies of scale; all of which would result in money saved. 

If enough money is not saved to cover the budget shortfall, we need to ask EVERYONE to tighten their belts, from the justices and judges to their staffs.  I can assure you that not one single justice nor judge was asked to take a pay cut (or even contemplated taking one) so that 150 people would not lose their jobs.  Nor were the support personnel.

As a last resort, I would have increased filing fees; which might do away with some stupid and/or frivolous cases that do nothing but clog up the docket.

I have never advocated cutting the human element in any way whatsoever, unless and until all other solutions have been explored.  In the end, all pay cuts would be restored as the budget allows.  BUT, the employees get their pay restored first and then the judges and then the justices.  This is how it is done in the private sector and how I did things when turning around troubled companies.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/04/alabama_budget_crunch_leads_je.html

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The Foundation for Fiscal Social Physical Accountability and Responsibility (FSPAR) is a non-partisan and non-profit organization committed to the implementation of sound-financial business principles in the administration, management and operation of the People’s business (government); devoted to social  consciousness and values and prudent stewardship in the implementation of our social responsibilities; and dedicated to the promotion and education of physical persistence, health and wellness.  FSPAR is comprised of individuals dedicated to the principles of FSPAR – prudence, efficiency and charity.  While FSPAR’s purpose is to enrich and improve The People’s lives through better government stewardship, it is committed to evaluating policy, identifying administrative shortcomings, communicating with legislators,  attending meetings, speaking to groups, hosting and being part of forums, talking with folks, seeking the input of public employees (boots on the ground and not department heads and supervisors), etc.  

Fiscal accountability is best described as when the business component of government is run like a business… where efficiency is the goal…where money is saved by reducing the unit cost and not the number of units purchased; in other words, paying less for the same units.  Social responsibility is helping others, examination of conscience and striving to be the best person we can be; all the while recognizing that success is a journey and not a destination.  Physical responsibility is being responsible to and for ourselves…taking care of the one body God gave us…treating the body like a temple and not a tent. 

 

Think of FSPAR as a watchdog of the business component of government, a moral compass of society as well as an advocate of wellness, fitness and healthcare.