South Dakota’s new Attorney General is in the media to talk about following through on his plans to end presumptive probation in the state and give Judges back discretion when it comes to dealing with scofflaws:
South Dakota’s incoming attorney general plans to follow through on his tough-on-crime campaign plan to reverse the state’s presumptive-probation policy for some lower-level felonies, a measure credited with helping avert expensive prison-population growth but criticized by some for tying judges’ hands.
Attorney General-elect Jason Ravnsborg told The Associated Press recently that ending presumptive probation would be the cornerstone of his legislative agenda for the upcoming session, saying the move would give the courts more flexibility. But critics argue it would open the floodgates to imprisoning significantly more people after South Dakota in 2013 passed a Republican-led justice-system overhaul to tackle prison overcrowding, cut costs and expand drug-addiction treatment options.
and…
House Majority Leader Lee Qualm, a Republican from Platte, said recently that he supports ending the policy.
“I think it would be a good thing to get rid of,” he said.
This was a big reason why County Sheriffs liked what Ravnsborg had to say, and supported him in the election. While it may have averted prison growth, there was the impression that it just dumped the problem on lower levels of government (as schools will tell you that Juvenile Justice reform did for them).
Jason said nothing about this issue until the States Attorney from Deadwood used it his entire campaign. Maybe Fitz helped him out. Good for him.
I call Bullsh*t.
It was the other way around. Ravnsborg was talking about this issue and others and other people picked up on it.
I agree completely with Dave…talk about revisionist history…for all Fitz and Seiler’s claimed experience Jason was the one with ideas and long before any events in Deadwood. Heck that was a year into the race…
Keep up the good work Jason! They will keep lying about you and keep smiling and kicking their butts!
Marty should have done this. This will win Ravnsborg support from hold out SA’s.
Anonymous 11:44am, I mean Mary. Get over that Fitz lost the race and trying to bash on Ravnsborg. Fitz gave no ideas once during his campaign, he only talked about how he had over 300 court cases or something like that (kept changing), which we found out later Fitz has a losing conviction rate.
I recognize that Education can be promiscuous & takes many friends but, just for the record, I didn’t post that comment.
I voted for Jason, proudly, and I do not support the Constitution Party, but I appreciate the Fitzgeralds. I’ve nothing but respect for the years of valuable service their family has given our state. I believe Mr. Fitzgerald to be a good lawyer and an effective prosecutor — a man who convicts dangerous felons and, by his valiant efforts, helps keep South Dakota safe. Moreover, I applaud his wife’s loyalty and her passionate support. God intended that husband and wife be united — indivisibly. All we who have married vowed to support our spouses in good times and in bad. Present political differences aside, it’s a mark of HIGH honor that Mary Fitzgerald stands by her man.
Dave R:
Incorrect. Jason did not have the knowledge being a volunteer prosecutor. I was actually complimenting Jason. He did learn something during the campaign.
Bunk. You are trying to rewrite history for your own ends.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
I think Dave R. is correct but (frankly) I don’t care. It’s a good idea. If it originated with Jason, great. If it originated with some sheriff or some states attorney, then I applaud Jason for having the wisdom to evaluate and adopt others’ smart ideas. A huge failing of egomaniac ‘leaders’ is their habitual rejection of good plans just because someone else dreamt em up.
Jason I believe said went and actually talked to Sheriffs and States attorneys across the state and built his platform from all those talks….novel idea actually talking to people and finding out what they wanted…..
Exactly. A great leader exhibits humility; he listens; he gathers up ideas from men and women in the arena, from those who labor daily in the field. No man walking this earth is smart enough to generate all the answers by himself. How can we fix Washington? Ask the states. How can we upgrade the state? Ask the counties. How can we improve counties? Ask the citizens.
Is this part of Daugaard’s legacy?
I’m assuming our financial situation as a state is his biggest accomplishment but will Kristi undo much of his other priorities.
Ravnsborg is the AG elect, it sure appears to me that he is bringing some great ideas and talent to the show. Presumptive probation was a sell-out. I don’t remember Fitz getting worked up about it when it passed, guess hind-sight is 20/20. Get behind him and help him get it done, you know it is the right move.
I agree…presumptive probation needs to end..I never heard any other candidate saying it.
No States Attorney liked it. Seward pushed it like a used car.
You guys think it’s a good idea to spend $50k/year to lock up a drug user?
I don’t. It’s a massive folly.
Are you out of touch…that is not what this is about at all….
No treatment + no deterrence= rampant drug problem
Sounds great ! It’s one of the reasons I and a handful of other legislators voted against the Governor’s “Judicial Reform” bill several years ago.
One word—-Leadership
When no one else stood up publicly about ending presumptive probation Jason has…I had my doubts in the beginning but he works hard, is likeable and now leads…like this guy more and more
I am glad we elected Ravnsborg, he was the only one of the candidates with ideas leadership experience. It is already showing and he hasn’t even taken office.
Did you go to any Lincoln Day Dinners? It was the topic Fitzgerald campaigned on.
I believe Ravnsborg brought it up first, and yes I did attend. I don’t ever remember Fitzy talking about anything other than himself.
Ravnsborg talked about specifics policy changes just like he is still doing, that is what caused me to vote for him.
Russell talked about fixing SB70 without any specifics and also a SD Version of the Freedom of Information Act, appealing but he had too much other baggage.
Fitz talked about how great he is–and the number of trials he has done, which grew old quickly with me and Seiler essentially ran the same failed campaign in the fall with some liberal positions..I had hoped Fitz would talk about issues but rarely ever did, so I quickly lost interest in him.
Plus Ravnsborg won and is keeping his campaign promises which I like to see of any candidate. Time to move on team Fitzgerald. Frankly, you need to support Jason now, the people spoke at both levels and you are coming across as sore losers, you are better than that.