Kudos to Judge Holmes!

Ever wonder why we have a lot of crime committed by repeat offenders? There are several reasons ranging from lenient sentences to jail overcrowding rules to lax probation officers.

Kudos to District Judge Tracy Holmes. She is outraged that Dallas County probation has failed to report to her numerous probation violations, and she's calling them to task for it, ordering an audit of the department.

"This is a failure of supervision in the field. It's extremely dangerous for Dallas County," said Judge Holmes when problems began to come to her attention. Holmes' concern was aroused when she found 34 cases of probationers repeatedly drinking and/or using drugs without the probation department reporting to her. One of the most ridiculous cases involved Richard Lee Barrett. He was on probation for his 3rd DWI. Over 18 months, he saw at least eight different probation officers. He tested positive for alcohol more than 30 times (once registering .102 at 7 o'clock in the morning), but the officers never reported him. 

In fact, the evidence indicates that the officers never even read his file. If they had done so, they would have noted a letter from the judge to Barrett's doctor saying he was not allowed to take hydrocodone even with a prescription. When Barrett tested positive for hydrocodone, he told the officer he had a prescription, and the officer's supervisor said it was OK.

At any rate, Judge Holmes discovered all this information and handed out a maximum prison sentence to Barrett. "I cannot risk the lives of the citizens of Dallas County." Well said, Judge Holmes!

"Drug use, probation audit is ordered." The Dallas Morning News; August 15, 2013; p. 1A.