FeedLies, damn lies and a lack of statistics at the state’s attorney’s office
July 19, 2005 in Watchdog Tags: johns, Journal Star, Kevin Lyons, Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons, Peoria Police Department, prostitution, shame, shaming
The State’s Attorney’s Office doesn’t keep statistics on how many people are charged each year, but [Assistant State's Attorney Steve] Pattelli said he believes at least 95 percent of those who are arrested for solicitation are charged.
But there’s still the perception that nothing is being done, and [Matt] Jones, the former prosecutor, said that’s not likely to change soon.
“Until the laws catch up and make it as tough as on the purchaser of vice as the seller, then there is going to be a problem,” he said.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think for one moment that if the prosecution rate was anywhere close to 95 percent, they would be keeping statistics. And does this definition of “prosecute” include reducing the charge from “solicitation of a sex act” to something more innocent, like “loitering?”
This figure doesn’t pass the smell test. If it were that high, we would see john’s names in the Journal Star more often. The JS doesn’t print the names of those arrested for solicitation until after they are formally charged. While the women are named all the time, we almost never see the names of the men.
The lack of statistics is part of the problem. I’m sure Lyons can tell us precisely what his office’s conviction rate is. It’s easy for prosecutors to achieve good conviction rates by cherry-picking the cases they are willing to take to trial.
More than one Peoria cop has told me that it’s hard to get Lyons to take cases to trial.
And frankly, I’m a little uncomfortable with a state’s attorney who is praised by defense attorneys and routinely disparaged by cops.
July 20th, 2005 at 9:49 am
I assume I’m referenced as a minion, so here goes. When I was in the office, which was almost decade ago, they didn’t keep stats. In fact, the only time I ever recall anything like that kind of research was in reference to an internal study done about the drug offenders going to prison, to see if there really were any first time, never been charged before folks, sitting in a prison cell for simple possession (the answer, by the way, was no, after considering the TASC, 410/710 probation, regular probation options available then and now with the drug court). To his credit, Kevin has never cared about stats. And if you read the article, the defense attorneys were not happy, they thought he charged too much, or did you miss that. With your experience outside of Peoria, you should know that there is constantly a tension between prosecutors and cops that develops over time. I can’t think of a single prosecutor who was elected the first time without broad law enforcement support, who didn’t (after a couple of terms if that lasted that long) have the same criticisms of going soft. That is why most State’s attorneys dont last past three terms. (that and the better judicial pension systems). My advice, be the journalist and get to the facts, not the word on the street assumptions. Sorry for the long post. but to suggest that Kevin actually does have stats and is hiding them without a basis is just wrong and to suggest that Sullivan, Hamm or I are lying to curry favor is equally wrong.
July 20th, 2005 at 10:12 am
Yes, I’m aware of the tension that always exists.
Perhaps I know more cops there than in the other communities I worked, but there seems to be an “awful lot* of tension.