Members of the county’s Policy and Personnel Committee met with judicial commissioners Monday night.  Judge Bill Locke and assistant district attorney Tom Miner were also present to answer questions posed by the judicial commissioners.
Committee chairman Ken Martin informed judicial commissioners that new computers have been purchased for them to use when writing warrants. The committee is also in the process of purchasing a laser printer to be used in the front office.
Locke said warrants are being written better and with fewer mistakes. “The warrants seem to be a lot better than some I’ve seen in times past,” said Locke.
Judicial commissioner Jim Hartman asked, “In regard to domestic abuse cases, should we be attaching bail conditions on the warrant? Are you dismissing them when they come to you?” he asked Locke.
Locke said the conditions stay in place. “We make sure they talk to someone from a domestic shelter. But, lots of times, they have fallen back in love when they get to me and they want the charges dropped.”
Hartman also said, “I’ve had situations in the past where officers go to the scene of a domestic abuse where both are slugging it out and they can’t determine who the aggressor is. They bring in both. I have a strong reluctance to charge both with the same crime. I have officers moaning and groaning when I don’t. If the officer is unable to make the determination of who to charge when it gets to me, is it up to me to make the decision?”
Locke answered, “You are the one who writes the warrants. It is all right to say no. If you don’t feel comfortable writing it, it is OK to say no. If you don’t feel comfortable charging both, I wouldn’t. At some point, the district attorney will have to make that decision. They can’t prosecute both of them.”
Judicial commissioner David Williams said, “I have had couple of people who when they can make their phone call, they call the person who put them in.”
“I told you, a lot of them fall in and out of love quickly,” said Locke.
Locke also said he can tell that Walmart is cracking down on all shoplifters. “Before, if they caught someone stealing $10 worth of merchandise, they would take them in the back and have them sign a paper saying they won’t do it again. Now, they are pretty much charging everybody they catch.”
Locke said he believes it is time for judicial commissioners to have a training session. “It would probably be a good idea since we’ve got some new ones to coordinate something like that. We need to take an hour or two and go over more questions and concerns.”
The committee agreed to schedule a training sessions for judicial commissioners to include information concerning DUIs and domestic abuse issues which they will frequently encounter.