Low crimes like Breaking and Entering may not get prosecuted in Detroit

California may capture the lion's share of media attention for black hole budget woes, but cities and states across the nation are crumbling before our eyes -- as Wall Street rallies on -- and may soon become about as lawless as the Wild West. To wit, Detroit. Prosecutor Kym Worthy told commissioners that low-priority crimes like breaking and entering might not be prosecuted and the conviction rates will continue to decline if the proposed budget for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office is approved, according to Kathleen Gray with The Detroit Free Press.

“We can’t even cover our courtrooms anymore,” Worthy said in vehemently disagreeing with the $28-million general fund budget proposed for the prosecutor’s office by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. “At some point, if the budget continues to be cut, we’re going to have to start making decisions about what crimes we prosecute.”

Commissioner Burton Leland states the obvious: “The No. 1 problem in the city is crime. If there’s not a certainty of punishment here, this is the place where they come to do their business. You’re the last department we should cut.”

“I know times are tough," said Worthy, "but I don’t care about any other department. I care about mine,” she said. “I’m not a prima donna, but we’re losing cases now that we shouldn't’t because we don’t have enough people.”