Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters: Cincinnati Is In Decline, Crime Is Rampant

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters says parts of Cincinnati have become so dangerous he won't let members of his family go near. Deters said "the violent crime rate has tripled" since the Cincinnati riots of 2001, and contends voter disapproval of a sales tax increase for an expanded jail means the city can expect to become increasingly unsafe. He wonders if economic redevelopment plans can survive.

Deters, a Republican who does not have a Democratic opponent this election year, can expect another four-year term in the prosecutor's post. The former state treasurer wrote a column for the current issue of Cincinnati Gentlemen (subscription required) that was unstinting in its description of a crime-ridden Cincinnati and a sad economic fate.

"The result of more criminals on the street is more crime. the bulk of this crime will occur in the city of Cincinnati. Despite this obvious fact, many city leaders did little to support the jail levy. The payoff will be the continual decline of safety in the city."

[snip]

"Why does northern Kentucky thrive while the city fights to maintain its population and businesses? Simple, people feel safe over there. When I left Cincinnati to become State Treasurer in 1999, the area around Main Street was thriving and fun and safe. Today, if my 19-year-old son informed me that he was heading to that area for the evening, I'd take his car keys.

"Wonderful development is coming to this city. Well-intentioned people are spending tons of money to revitalize its core. But, I contend it doesn't matter where you move the fountain. One punk with a gun can ruin everything."

Cincy Enquirer: Amid Death Penalty Debate, It Didn't Report A Death Sentence Was Overturned

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Cincinnati Enquirer today carries a lengthy defense of capital punishment in Ohio by Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, whose Op-Ed article appears under the title "Criticism of Ohio's death penalty is way off the mark." Curiously, the Gannet Co. Inc. morning daily failed to report this weekend that the Ohio Supreme Court overturned a death penalty conviction because favorable evidence was withheld from the defense by prosecutors in Cleveland.

Deters took issue with an American Bar Association study issued Sept. 25 that calls for a moratorium on death sentences in Ohio. The Ohio Supreme Court vacated the aggravated murder conviction of Vernon Brown, saying he deserved a new trial because the original was not fair.

"We are not convinced, however, that Brown's s guilty verdicts and death sentences are worthy of confidence, for the errors by both the prosecution and defense cause us to question whether the jury's conclusions could have been fairly reached. The prosecution breached its duty to provide to the defense all evidence material to Brown's guilt or innocence. The defense attorney's also erred by failing to provide effective assistance of counsel."

The unanimous decision by the state's high court in Columbus cited the 1963 ruling in Brady v. Maryland by the United States Supreme Court. It said any evidence discovered by the state favorable to a defendant -- and is material to the case -- must be provided to the defense. In its call for a moratorium on capital punishment in Ohio, the American Bar Association expressed concern the death pealty does not guarantee accuracy, or fairness and is racially biased against blacks.

Ohio Prosecutor Joe Deters On ABA's Execution Moratorium: Liberal Hogwash

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters -- whose jurisdiction accounts for 37 of the 184 people on Ohio's death row -- tells the hometown Cincinnati Enquirer that the American Bar Association panel was stacked with liberals. Deters is a Republican and supports capital punishment.

From today's Enquirer:

"This commission is a liberal defense attorney dream team. There is not a single active prosecutor on it. It included a former Ohio Supreme Court justice [Craig Wright] who vowed he'd never vote for the death penalty again, and it goes downhill from there.

"You would think it would have at least one prosecutor, somebody . . . Instead, it's packed with a bunch of liberals. There conclusion should come as no surprise. These are people who don't believe in the death penalty. They know Ohioans support it and can't change the law so they try to subvert the law."

Here's a list of the ABA panel members:

1. Craig Wright, former Ohio justice now Ohio Court of Claims judge.

2. U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Cleveland Democrat and former Cuyahoga County prosecutor.

3. State Sen. Shirley Smith, Democrat, Cleveland.

4. S. Adele Shank, Columbus attorney in private practice and former general counsel Ohio Public Defender's office.

5. U.S. Magistrate Michael Merz, Dayton.

6. Geoffrey S. Mearns, dean, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University.

7. Margery Koosed, University of Akron law professor.

8. Mark Godsey, University of Cincinnati law professor and director of the school's innocence project.

9. Phyllis Crocker, associate dean, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University.

10. David Stebbins, Columbus defense lawyer.