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Serpas asks state to strengthen sentencing laws
Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 12:27am
Police Chief Ronal Serpas told legislators Wednesday that law enforcement needs will continue to grow. File
Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas addressed the state Legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee Wednesday, asking them to allocate more state resources to law enforcement, especially asking for tougher sentencing laws for violent criminals and repeat offenders.
Serpas told legislators that law enforcement needs continue to grow, citing recent state Department of Corrections figures that shows a “50 percent failure rate for inmates released on parole.”
“In other words, of the 3,998 parolees released in the year 2000, 1,984 had been returned to prison with in three years,” he said. “I would argue that when we see this same analysis for today’s criminal, it will be much worse.”
Serpas said that when the state chooses not to spend money to keep violent criminals and repeat offenders behind bars longer, they shift the cost to communities and neighborhoods, creating “new victims and loss of life and innocence.”
He asked legislators to look at sentencing laws that have recently been strengthened in New York and Florida, then rhetorically posed the question, “I wonder what fiscal note calculation process they use?”
Throughout his presentation, Serpas pointed legislators to detailed statistics compiled in Davidson County over the course of a year. Information included crime data for offenses ranging from homicides to auto theft.
In closing, Serpas issued a plea to legislators.
“We need your help, we need your partnership, and we need it soon,” he said. “For surely, local government plays a critical role in crime control, but the State government plays the decisive role through legislating crimes and their punishment.”
“He had some very interesting statistics, but there are many factors that we have to take into account when making budget decisions,” State Sen. Thelma Harper said of Serpas’ presentation.
Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris (Collierville) said, “His information was compelling, he gave me information that I will refer to and value in this next legislative session. So many people come unprepared, he had all the facts.”
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Filed under: City News
Well it's about time Serpas asked for tougher sentencing laws. Ever since he became Chief these criminals have had nothing other than a slap on the wrist and out they go.He can also add the drug dealing felons that still plague the streets of East Nashville. Some "Intervention" program Serpas they are still selling. Pushing the dealers over a block or two does not rid the neighborhoods of crime.Before you bring the media in to pat yourselves on the back make sure you did your job which was not the case in many East Nashville neighborhoods with the phony Intervention.Drug dealing Serpas is a felony and where there are drugs allowed there will also be guns and you have not removed them in 5 yrs.Taking a few drug runners off the street last spring was far from sufficient Serpas as the drug dealing still continues.People/neighbors need to start filing complaints against the police department and also councilwoman Pam Murray for their neglect of these neighborhoods.While you're at it Serpas remove the felons you have allowed MDHA to house in government funded rentals. It is illegal and Serpas you need to enforce the Federal and State Laws which you have also ignored.The people of Nashville deserve better, the people of Nashville needs a chief who "ENFORCES THE LAWS," not ignores them.
Sen. Harper is correct. The legislature really has to make those tough budget decisions like whether to fund law enforcement and corrections or give grants to starving artists. It is those hard-hitting decisions that set people like Sen. Harper apart. After all, our state constitution clearly puts the responsibility of making sure every painter and sculptor in the state enjoys full employment on the shoulders of our legislature.
Yeah we need harsher sentences for all these TRAFFIC VIOLATORS that Serpas is constantly bringing in!!
It doesn't help when the PD is staffed at 15-20 year old levels, has a hard time hiring and retaining officers and has to park emergency vehicles because they can't afford the gas for them. Emergency services in Metro, both police and fire/ems, have pretty much been ignored and left to languish.
WickedTribe, obey the traffic laws and you have nothing to worry about and then if everyone would obey them, the police would be available for other crime. Don't blame the police for doing their job, blame the ones breaking the laws. Keep up the good work, chief!
I'm glad that police can only be "available for other crime" if traffic violations go down. At least we agree on where Serpas places his PRIORITIES.
Not what I said at all. Read carefully, traffic laws must be enforced, but if people obeyed them then the police would not be bogged down with them. An idiot in a car is as dangerous as someone with a gun. All crime has to be addressed and that is what the chief is trying to do. We do need tougher sentences.
The police choose to work speed traps or sit on the side of the road instead of chasing real criminals. No one is forcing them to do this.And someone driving with a burnt out headlight or crossing a solid line instead of a dotted line when exiting the interstate is no where near as dangerous as someone with a gun.
Someone speeding or running red lights is just as dangerous. You can't ignore any crime, we just do not have enough officers. We can't have an officer stationed at every bank or convenience store to keep it from being robbed. Two people shot in broad daylight, one died at the scene in Antioch. You can't stop that without having an officer stationed there. A lot more coward criminals than brave officers. Traffic stops have caught people who have committed other crimes.
They do chase the other criminals, but they have already committed the crime.