FACTORS PUSHING PINELLAS COUNTY FLORIDA TO DECRIMINALIZE SMALL QUANTITIES OF MARIJUANA

Many of the states and major cities in America have decriminalized marijuana with no backlash of an uptick in crime. Now major cities and counties in Florida are finally taking notice by pushing for their own decriminalization in an effort to focus law enforcement on more serious drug and violent crime offenses. But for many areas in the State of Florida avoiding harsh penalties for possession of even small amounts of marijuana is difficult. Yet resources are being wasted in a state that recently admitted that there were literally thousands of backlogged rape kits which the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has failed to test. Decriminalizing marijuana would seem to be an effective way for the state, cities and counties of Florida to better utilize limited resources.

Just give me the damn marijuana ticket, officer!

In Florida Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties have successfully decriminalized small amounts of marijuana. Instead of branding countless otherwise law abiding citizens as criminals these counties fine those caught with small quantities of marijuana. Councilmen in St. Petersburg are pushing their city attorneys to draft an effective ordinance transitioning toward fines rather than criminal sanctions for possession of marijuana in weights of 20 grams or less within the city limits.

Will this progressive city action have enough leverage to force Pinellas county do something as well? The Pinellas County Sheriff seems to be a stumbling block against reasonable change. For example, after initially saying he was for medical marijuana, he came out forcefully against the actual medical marijuana constitutional amendment by implying that illegal pot and other substances would flood the safe streets of Pinellas if it passed. Clearly, he prefers having more arrests as higher stats from misdemeanor and felony marijuana arrests fuel his arguments for ever greater funding even at a time when studies show that violent crime is down in Pinellas County. The Pinellas county commission should direct more police funding toward reducing violent crime or support a capable sheriff who will.

Ultimately it's a question of fairness. Do we really want nosey officers smelling for marijuana to avoid procuring necessary and proper search warrants? Is it fair that a college student in Miami with a small amount of marijuana is treated differently than a similar student in Largo or Clearwater? Is it fair to spend limited law enforcement and prosecutorial funds on a nonviolent offense that's legal in over half the country? Is it fair to make rape victims wait for justice because the State of Florida does not have enough money to fund thousands of backlogged rape kits?

HOW PROSECUTORS CONTROL & DIRECT AMERICAN FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENT DELIBERATIONS

In a well-known yet hidden truth of federal criminal law, federal grand jury's don't indict people - federal prosecutors do. It's the United State's prosecutors aided by government agents from the FBI, the DEA and fraud inspectors from a variety of Government agencies who bring cases to American grand jurors and direct the deliberations until the desired indictment is delivered. 

Grand Jury with victorious Prosecutor
after delivering Indictment

The grand jury hears only the evidence deemed worthy by the government. In practical terms this means that unless the prosecutor does not want an indictment, little or no evidence that could help the defendant will ever be given to members of the grand jury. It's an unfair process, but of course it's meant to be. 

The objective of an effective prosecutor is first to mold the charging document or indictment. During that process the prosecutor seeks to iron out or at least gain useful knowledge of possible defenses to a potential criminal case. It's not unusual for the grand jury to hear snippets of evidence of uncharged misconduct over a long course of time, even for weeks or months, especially in complex federal conspiracy and trafficking cases or complicated white collar fraud cases, until the prosecutor is satisfied that the case if contested by the defense can still be won at federal trial or better, that the defendant in the case can be forced to plead guilty. It's rare that the grand jury members will have the presence of mind, will power or strength of character to stop an inappropriate indictment from being issued by an ardent prosecutor. 

After all, the members of an American grand jury are relying on the prosecutor to not only give them the appropriate federal laws allegedly being violated, but also to provide the facts necessary to support a conviction under those laws. Nor is it likely to be considered prosecutorial misconduct for the federal prosecutor to unduly influence the grand jury's decision-making process as it's built within an often unfair federal criminal justice system that has a very high rate of success in forcing guilty pleas since many defendants come to believe that the criminal justice system is rigged in the government's favor.

In the federal prosecutions there's incentive to overcharge defendants at the grand jury level in order to gain leverage over defendants and to force a guilty plea with co-operation to indict other defendants. In fact in the Middle District of Florida in Tampa a defendant may receive a target letter, that advises the defendant that a grand jury has been convened to look at criminal conduct with the implicit threat that failure to respond, retain the services of a federal defense attorney and co-operate may result in a federal indictment. As a practical matter the prosecutor has such control and direction of the federal grand jury that the threats must be taken seriously. After a federal indictment the defendant with help from a federal criminal defense attorney must make an important life-changing decision, whether to plead guilty or have a federal trial.

HOW THAT FOOL JUDGE HOLDER AIMS FOR JUSTICE BY TRUMPING THE CRIMINAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES

Judges - some are good, some are bad, some are smart and still others are just fools. Let's take a look at Circuit Judge Holder, a fool if there ever was one. For most criminal judges in Florida finding justice for criminal defendants is quick and easy, it's all about calculating the guideline ranges and like a machine spitting out the highest prison sentence possible. Smart judges know you can never give too much prison time to a defendant as it never pays in the end to show too much compassion or to look too deep into the facts and circumstances of a case. Real justice practiced by smart judges in Florida is all about being re-elected preferably without any opposition. The best way to do that is not to take any undo risks with those damned defendants who'd enjoy nothing more than spoiling their breakfast newspaper time with some new sordid crime followed in section B.

Donkey Wonder Fortune Teller Calculating Machine
 Used By Florida Judges to Calculate Prison Terms

Who knew that in the west coast of Florida there could be a judge who is not a mere guidelines and scoresheets calculating machine? Apparently this fool, Judge Holder, believes that justice means weighing all the facts surrounding an incident not only from the prosecution, the police, the witnesses and the victims, but all of the circumstances of a crime including even the possible motivations and incomprehensible suffering of the very defendant who committed the crime. 

In a recent case before Judge Holder in the special court for war veterans he ruled on the fate of a veteran shown to have post-traumatic stress disorder. The young veteran, a student at the University of South Florida, was charged with discharging a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief. In his case, as in many so-called violent crimes, no one was actually hurt with his psychological issues combined with alcohol clearly shown to be a contributing factor.

In fact the only life seemingly ruined because of the incident was that of the young veteran who faced not only the grim prospect of years in prison after being branded a violent criminal for the rest of his life, but also of living a life with fewer job and educational opportunities as he'd been expelled from USF.

Because of the proven PTS the Judge Holder gave no jail time despite Florida sentencing guidelines dictating prison. Instead he gave two years of house arrest with a reasonable provision of his sentence being that the veteran receive regular help and therapy for his PTSD. 

But merely making sure that he'd given the young veteran a fair sentence wasn't enough for this judge. He took the time to write members of the board of the University of South Florida and to speak to them in urging the university to allow the young veteran to get his degree. Of course they ignored the judge, after all he's a fool. Just because he cares about justice, compassion and second chances why should he assume anyone else does? This is Florida, after all.

WHY THE JURY NEVER HEARS THE UNEMBELLISHED TRUTH IN CRIMINAL TRIALS IN TAMPA BAY FLORIDA

Why is it that criminal trials are often the least likely place one can expect to find unembellished truth? Walk into any courtroom and you'll hear the judge harangue defense lawyers, prosecutors and witnesses with long lists of which bits of evidence, facts and circumstances are proper to present. Much of this happens outside the hearing of those lost-looking jurors, though as the trial progresses they become all too aware of what is obvious to everyone else in the courtroom - they're not really hearing all the evidence.

Pinellas County Jury searches for Truth

Clearly it's laudable that any good judge aims to give the defendant a fair trial, while other judges seem to not so much want a fair trial for the defendant a fair playing field where the prosecution always wins. Either way a judge will cloak most evidentiary decisions with language that's based on keeping out possible prejudicial information that might inflame those innocent jurors. The quest for fairness may entail not letting defense counsel ask worrisome questions about prior police misconduct or a judge could prevent prosecutors from bringing up a defendant's prior criminal history at least until the defendant takes the stand to testify in his own defense.

But as the judge parses thru layers of testimony and evidence - allowing this, denying that - those familiar with the actual facts of a case will find that the facts presented to the jury are oddly different than what really happened. How it happens may be a mystery but it always does. The mysterious result is damaging not only to the integrity of those involved, but also to the ends of justice itself. 

In criminal cases there's always a detective or police officer who testifies. These witnesses see that the actual facts become distorted until over time their sense of absolute truth and vital honesty erodes. Unfortunately all of those tied to the criminal justice system especially judges, defense attorneys and prosecutors suffer from observing the constant failure of truth. In fact, I even fear for the bailiffs who day after day hear multiple versions of facts - all but the truth - like courtroom clocks giving false time.