Column: Offenders hold keys to release
Check out Judge Berkowitz's recent column in Cincinnati.com:
Concerns about the justice system are heightened as our community confronts an ongoing heroin epidemic, a spike in violence, the murder of a Cincinnati police officer and the indictment of a UC police officer for the murder of an unarmed motorist. As a judge and former assistant prosecutor, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many people affected by a criminal case, including victims, witnesses, jurors, defendants, or concerned citizens. One was a gentleman at a police-community outreach meeting I’ll call Mike. Mike is a recovering addict and alcoholic who works as a counselor at one of the region’s leading inpatient treatment facilities, serving mainly offenders whose sentence includes drug or alcohol rehab.