Support for tough sentencing of "first-time DUI offenders"

On July 24 and 25, 2011, the Detroit Free Press published a two-part series on DUI-sentencing disparities in the Detroit, Michigan area. The July 25th article highlighted the tough sentencing practices of an Oakland County (just north of Detroit) judge. Here is a link to that article.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110725/NEWS06/107250334/Part-2-Judge-among-toughest-nation-1st-time-DUI-offenders?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

I support tough sentencing for even so-called "first time" offenders. As law enforcement officers know, rarely is a DUI driver caught the first time they drive while under the influence. Here is the letter I sent to the Detroit Free Press editor in support of the Judge's tough sentencing practices:

Dear Editor:

I applaud 48th District Court Judge Kimberly Small's practice of jailing most so-called "first-time DUI offenders." If every judge had a similar practice, those who drink or do drugs and drive would get the message that DUI is simply not acceptable. That if you drink or do drugs and drive you will be severely sanctioned. That changes the message from "try not to drink too much and drive," to "you will go to jail if you drink and drive." Defense attorney Hall damns Judge Small with faint praise when he says "It's so she can say she's tough on crime." Unfortunately, Hall's statement suggest that DUI isn't a "real crime." I hope that other judges, including those south of 8 Mile Rd., will realize, as Judge Small has, that one doesn't have a right to endanger innocent citizens by drinking and driving.

Thomas E. Page, Detroit

On July 31, 2011, the Detroit Free Press published the following edited letter:
I applaud 48th District Judge Kimberly Small's practice of jailing most so-called first-time DUI offenders. If every judge had a similar practice, those who drink or do drugs and drive would get the message that DUI is simply not acceptable -- that if you drink or do drugs and drive you will be severely sanctioned.

That changes the message from "try not to drink too much and drive" to "you will go to jail if you drink and drive."

I hope that other judges, including those south of 8 Mile Road, will realize, as Judge Small has, that one doesn't have a right to endanger innocent citizens by drinking and driving.

Thomas E. Page, retired from the Los Angeles Police Department, Detroit