How the local law enforcement infrastructure from apprehension through adjudication works together was the subject of a panel discussion presented by the Jacksonville Bar Association at its March 21 members meeting.
Moderated by JBA President-elect candidate Brian Coughlin, the panel comprised State Attorney for the 4th Judicial Circuit Melissa Nelson, 4th Circuit Public Defender Charlie Cofer and Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters.
The panel agreed that police, prosecution and criminal defense in Duval County depend on being able to communicate with each other.
“We are independent entities. We don’t always agree, but we communicate and we don’t air our grievances publicly,” Nelson said.
The state attorney schedules regular meetings with the public defender to discuss active cases and interacts with JSO every day.
“We have case specific discussions or she tells us where we are coming up short. We have a really great line of communication and the best relationship of any state attorney and sheriff in the state,” Waters said.
“We get along, but we can disagree in a professional and constructive way,” Nelson said.
“Relationships are important,” Cofer said.
“Issues will come up that need to be addressed and relationships give me a better understanding of the challenges faced by the other offices.”
Nelson and Waters said their positions require them to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Nelson is informed immediately when there is a murder or when a police officer is injured, killed or involved in a shooting.
“Anything that rises to the level that people will want to know what is going on, I am on 24-hour watch,” Waters said.
Nelson said with Jacksonville leading the state in number of homicides, her top priority is addressing violent crime.
“Our Targeted Prosecution Team works closely with JSO. A small number of people are driving a large amount of violence,” Nelson said.
“Shooters do it over and over again. We have to get them off the street and put them away until they decide they want to do something different. We are heavily involved in intervention and prevention, but if you are committing murder, armed robbery or carjacking, you need to spend time in jail,” Waters said.
Cofer said apprehending perpetrators and then convicting them has not had much positive effect on reducing crime.
“The sheriff does an excellent job arresting people and the state attorney’s office does an excellent job prosecuting people. We need to look beyond solving crimes to solving the community’s crime problem. Until we address poverty within large sections of our community, we will continue to have a crime problem,” Cofer said.
The JBA’s next member luncheon is May 1, Law Day, when Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan will be the guest speaker.