Letter to the Editor: Holmes - My thoughts on our county departments
My name is Tom Holmes and I am currently a candidate for the Minnehaha County Commission. To help prepare for that role, I have been busy attending county commission meetings and interviewing the heads of each of the departments that provide services to us in the county. What I have discovered is that we have a dedicated group of professionals who take great pride in their work in providing the best service possible for you and I.
I would like to share with you what I have learned from my visits to the offices of the State’s Attorney, Public Defender, and Public Advocate. Currently, there are 32 attorneys working in the State’s Attorney office, however, that number will expand due to the increasing needs of the county. Attorneys deal with juvenile prosecution, abuse and neglect of children, civil cases, as well as misdemeanor and felony cases. Fourteen of the lawyers deal with drugs, property crimes and crimes against persons.
A relatively new component has been the inclusion of diversion classes. The program serves juveniles and first offenders and is tailored to meet the needs of the individual. It utilizes counseling, treatment, and community service to rehabilitate those in the program. The program has been largely successful as there has been only a 9 percent recidivism rate.
Although methamphetamine is the primary driver of criminal activity in the county, there is growing concern regarding juveniles using guns in the commission of crimes. These guns are stolen out of unlocked vehicles, etc.
The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees legal counsel to those accused of a crime. For those who cannot afford an attorney, the county provides them with one from the Public Defender’s Office. To qualify, individuals must complete an application verifying that they lack the funds.
Last year, 27 attorneys settled 9,000 cases dealing with abuse and neglect and often representing juveniles. If there is a second party contesting the claim made by the first party, a lawyer from the Public Advocate’s Office is assigned to represent that individual.
In South Dakota clients are charged $100 an hour and if they are unable to pay. it becomes an automatic lien. The county can also garnish wages or take away a driver’s license. Individuals seeking legal counsel often have mental health issues resulting from meth use. This condition is known as Substance Abuse Psychosis. The Public Defender’s Office works diligently with other departments in trying to help these individuals. The work is challenging but it can be very rewarding.
Tom Holmes
Candidate for Minnehaha County Commission
