Eckerle is just afraid now that she’s going to look like an inept boob for PRESIDING OVER THIS MAN’S 5 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE when he hasn’t been convicted of even pissing on her front porch.

Now, after all this time, she finally says he can be released on his own recognizance… but she’s still demanding he DEFEND HIMSELF AGAINST MURDER CHARGES brought by the same inept DA’s office that has been spending the last 5 years spinning the propellers on their proverbial beanies.

The reason that I mention this is that Louisville Metro is one of the agencies whose homicide detectives are regularly shadowed by television crews from A&E for its documentary series “The First 48.” This makes me wonder how much incompetence and misconduct A&E or its employees are aware of at police agencies whose detectives they film. I fear that it may be a lot.

As far as I’m concerned, media outlets should be held to the highest journalistic standards in cases like this. They should be given no blessing to trade fear and favor for access. Obviously, this is an all-too-common journalistic practice, one often kept secret from the audience. It is unethical and contemptible, and audiences should not tolerate it. I’m probably expecting too much from audiences.

Maybe I’m also expecting too much from a broadcaster that subsists on documentaries showing hardened prisoners abusing and threatening juvenile delinquents in ways that would get any of us mere civilians arrested if we followed suit.

The duration of pretrial detention becomes most relevant at the extremes. In misdemeanor cases, such as the inexcusably mishandled DUI case in Dona Ana County, NM, lengthy pretrial detention can result in a period of confinement longer than the maximum permitted by law. At the other extreme, it is a moot point legally when a sentence of death or life without parole is handed down after conviction.

I have often pondered whether I would want to be released prior to trial if I were indicted and believed that I was likely to be convicted and given a lengthy prison sentence. My usual inclination has been to stay in jail and get as much of it over with as soon as possible. This is kind of like pondering whether one would rather be hanged or shot, but I imagine it’s an inevitable thought for fully sentient people living in police states.

I think they can subtract pre-trial confinement from a sentence as time already served. I don’t know if this is required of the judge or simply discretionary.

Viv La Revolution!!!

Sharpening up my pitchfork right now. Will have the torches ready by the end of the weekend.

-jcr

Awesome job on receiving nominations for several journalism awards in Southern California:

http://reason.com/blog/2012/06/01/reason-nominated-for-11-southern-califor

Not trying to take away from the latest absurd criminal justice and human rights violations, just alerting the good people of Mr. Balko’s recent accomplishments.

And, obviously, if taking such action is within a judge’s authority, why the hell not take it?

(BTW, I can’t be sure, but I am assuming that the prosecution is responsible for the delays.)