Suspected domestic abusers go free as Topeka city, county officials bicker over funds

[mfcorey1]

Will be deemed not illegal. WTF?

A bitter argument over money in Topeka, Kan., means that city and county authorities have neglected to prosecute or charge people suspected of domestic battery since Sept. 8.

In other words, the local justice system has spent a month effectively sending the message that misdemeanor domestic assault will go unpunished--at least for now.

The dispute started last month, when Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor announced that a 10 percent budget cut to his office in 2012 meant he would no longer be prosecuting any of the city's misdemeanors, effective immediately. Topeka city council members say they can't afford the estimated $800,000 yearly cost of prosecuting those misdemeanors and jailing offenders--and that they want the county to continue carrying out misdemeanor prosecutions as it has for the past 25 years. The county continues to insist that the jurisdiction for these prosecutions should shift to city prosecutors, but the Topeka City Council says that none of the city's five attorneys has any recent experience prosecuting domestic violence cases.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/suspected-domestic-abusers-free-topeka-city-county-officials-161404729.html

[MuseRider]

1. Isn't it lovely?

He was funded until 2012 so I don't know why he did not continue until then. The county does have a point there but who knows what is actually really going on. I do know one thing, Kari Ann and Kansas Now will not stop until this is resolved.

In memory of Jana.

EDIT to add link: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2011/10/07/violent-abusers-let-out-into-streets-of-topeka-as-domestic-violence-is-downgraded-by-prosecutors

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Classic poison pill maneuver