Christian Avard | Staff Photo
Judge Amy Davenport, chief administrative judge for Vermont’s trial courts, answers questions about the judicial system and how it handles drug-related crimes. A meeting was held at the Springfield town office on Monday to discuss the rise of drug-related crimes in Springfield. Looking on is Rep. Alice Emmons of Springfield
By Christian Avard | Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield town and state officials are doubling their efforts to prevent drug-related crimes in their local community.
Local, state, and law enforcement officials and residents met on Monday to discuss the growing concern of drug abuse, trafficking, gang recruitment and downtown shootings. The meeting was organized by State Rep. Alice Emmons of Springfield.
Community leaders are looking for solutions to make Springfield safe. Understanding how law enforcement handles drug related cases was a first step.
Judge Amy Davenport, chief administrative judge for Vermont’s trial courts, presented an overview on how judges make decisions. Rep. Emmons asked why aren’t individuals arrested for drug offenses supervised when they are released on bail?
Judge Davenport said unlike other states, Vermont does not offer pre-trial services to monitor individuals out on parole. Some examples of pre-trial services are substance abuse-related, such as the Sparrow Project, but resources are lacking and the courts can only do so much.
“We can impose 24-hour curfews. But we don’t have investigators that go and find out whether a person is where they are living during this period,” Davenport said. “What we hear at the court is what the police and the state attorney tells us and we make decisions based on the information we have.”
Landlords can play a role in informing local and state authorities and the State Attorney’s office. Although they are not available yet, Davenport said pre-trial services are being still considered in the Vermont court system.
Drug-related sentencing was also discussed. According to Davenport, judges look at the proportionality of the crime and whether it will deter future crimes from occurring.
She said people commit drug offenses for a variety of reasons and all factors are taken into consideration. But Springfield Select Board member Michael Knoras questioned the judge how people arrested in a major drug raid can be released back into the community and not be charged?
Knoras was referring to an Oct. 2 drug raid in Chester where 10 individuals (four from Vermont and six from New Jersey) were arrested. Police confiscated $30,000 in drugs, including 665 bags of heroin worth $20,000, 62.2 grams of crack cocaine, one gram of cocaine worth $6,200, 133 OxyContin pills worth $4,000, and $18,000 in cash.
Five out of the 10 suspects were released and felony trafficking charges were dropped, to Knoras’ surprise.
“They were known drug dealers. They have records 10 miles long in New Jersey,” Knoras said.
“The reasons why prosecutors decide to dismiss charges deal with how good the evidence is,” Davenport responded.
Keith Flynn, Department of Public Safety Commissioner, said there is no magic bullet stopping the supply and demand of drugs. Flynn, a former county prosecutor, said communities could approach the problem by education awareness, targeted drug investigations, treatment programs, and community coalition building.
Another key element is having a community that’s engaged and dedicated to fighting the problem over the long haul. According to Davenport and Flynn, Springfield is a town that’s committed to the fight.
“Just having this conversation is important. There are so many towns that don’t have these and take the initiative to understand the system,” Davenport said.
“The reality is we cannot arrest our way out of the drug problem,” Flynn said. “Supply will continue because the drug dealers are business people. They’re coming here because they have identified a market. There’s a demand and they can meet it.”
Additional meetings will be scheduled for developing drug prevention strategies. No dates have been determined.
christian.avard@
rutlandherald.com
The Commisioner has a point, the Police cant be the only solution. How about Alice Emmons get up to Montpeiler and find a way to get state benefits taken away from drug dealers. We are supporting many of these folks with section 8 housing and EBT cards, etc. It is outrageous that the tax payer is footing the bill for the drug fallout and paying to support the perpertrators. If I have to pay taxes to support them I would rather it be a jail cell not an apartment.
in Springfield you could start by fireing the officers involved with the drug dealing.such as crack sold on union street right smak in the middle of the school zone and start arresting blatant drug dealers that go around shooting at people,btw legalize marijuana that will reduce alot of the crime issues.it is a harmless drug and has many benefits. economicly and health wise such as it fights cancer better than any known treatment,we all know that its our government that is behind the major drugs like heroin to fund there black budget wars..lets start arresting some of them and stop beating around the bush
what officer was involved wiht selling crack.. or any drug for that matter? Wet hecom .. you must have some insight on this information that must make it true, so why not make a formal complaint so this could be dealt with.. if not .. dont start a rumor that only creates doubt.. without any factual basis.
@heretohelpspringfield they wont let me get a copy of the picture and i have made a complaint.and this is not a rumor.BTW JonGraham is a trooper he chooses not to speak about it.enough said
Wethecom..Please check your facts. The individual who was dealing drugs near the school on Union Street and fired the shots on Main Street is in jail. The problem is not a lack of effort on the part of the Police. There certainly is a lack of manpower. The problem lies with the courts, corrections and ultimetly the legislature. The politicians need to pass laws that keep up with the “big city” crime we are seeing in Vermont. In addition as I mentioned previously the taxpayer is subsidizing this activitiy with section 8 housing and EBT cards. This has to be stopped but I doubt politicians like Alice Emmons will make tough choices in making social service harder to get. Hopefully she will prove me wrong.
@JonGraham i do not dispute the rest of what you have said
@JonGraham i know the person is in jail and the details of how he was kept in jail.but that dose not change the fact there was an officer involved with that situation.and the the fact he was stupid enough to have pictures of him be taken
JonGraham the person who shot and the police officer that is involved with the drugs are to different people but the same people i am speaking of and i know my facts…and there are pictures to prove it
How about the GANG issues in Springfield the citizens are NOT safe. Gangs brings drugs, crime and murder.Stop arresting the little guys you think have control and go after the known head drug dealers and stop their connections. Revamp the Police Dept with OUTSIDE help and take Springfield Back.