District attorneys endorse Riley plan
By Todd Kleffman
Montgomery Advertiser

District Attorney Randall Houston, who serves Autauga and Elmore counties, is no big fan of increasing taxes. But Houston knows how badly his office and others in law enforcement are struggling without adequate resources.

That why Houston is on board with a rare endorsement from Alabama District Attorneys Associations in support of Gov. Bob Riley's $1.2 billion tax and accountability package.

"I'm very reluctant to talk to you about our lack of resources because I don't want that getting out to the criminals," Houston said. "On a personal level, I hate taxes. But as a professional, I don't know what else we can do. We need it so bad. You don't know how unprotected you are."

In the association's resolution backing Riley's proposal, executive director Randy Hillman offers a similar assessment.

"Many Alabama citizens do not realize the condition of our criminal justice system," the resolution states. "In truth, it is badly broken."

All of Alabama's 42 elected district attorneys belong to the association. Montgomery County District Attorney Ellen Brooks declined to comment, referring questions to Hillman.

Houston used recent cases he has been involved in to point out the kind of financial trouble law enforcement agencies face.

When Ronnie Holman was shot and killed during a home invasion robbery in Titus in rural Elmore County two weeks ago, Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin and three of the four deputies on duty were at the crime scene, Houston said.

"We had one deputy protecting 70,000 people," he said.

Houston also said that because of long delays in the undermanned Department of Forensic Sciences, DNA testing on a rape case may take as long as 18 months. That means the rapist remains on the streets while police wait for DNA results to build their case, he said.

"If your child had been raped and I told you it would take a year and half to get the testing complete, you'd be outraged," Houston said. "I get a lot of outraged people."

Bob Gambacurta, spokesman for the Tax Accountability Coalition that is fighting Riley's plan, said the endorsement of the association and Houston's concerns were little more than "scary stories."

"That's just scare tactics meant to scare people into voting for the massive tax increase," Gambacurta said. "They're running 20 points behind in the polls and they're desperate. They'll do anything to get it passed."

Hillman said the state association does not usually get into political battles but felt it had to come out in favor of Riley's plan because of the dire straits affecting many elements of the criminal justice system. Prisons, parole officers, forensics, law enforcement are all in need of additional funding.

"The DAs of this state have never gotten involved in a situation like this, but it's gotten to the point where we have no choice," he said. "The criminal justice system has been neglected for a long, long time in this state."

 

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