When the Legislature convenes for the 2023-2024 session on December 5, some big issues will be waiting for us. They include crime, the cost of living, water supply; these problems and many more need immediate attention.According to a recent report from the Attorney General’s office, violent crime increased by 6.7% from 2020 to 2021. Property crimes increased 3%, the total arrest rate decreased 7.3%, adults on probation are at the lowest level since 1980, and the total number of full-time criminal justice personnel decreased by 2.7%. So crime rose, but law enforcement personnel, arrests and probation rates have gone down. Even so, we can reduce crime; we just need to put criminals in jail, with supervised probation and substance use and mental health treatment programs that prevent fu
