I read the recent article on the front page of the Addison Independent concerning Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos. It belonged on the editorial page and not on the front page. It was not an objective evaluation of Ms. Vekos’ running of the office.

It appeared to me to support two concepts: 1) that all domestic abuse matters were being mis-handled; and 2) the sentences that were being handed out were too lenient and that was the fault of the State’s Attorney.

My experience with that office under Ms. Vekos’ leadership has been that she has been a tough and fair prosecutor.

In my experience in domestic abuse and sexual assault cases, I have never known a case, with a few rare exceptions, where the victims thought the punishment imposed was enough.

I would point out that the Vermont Constitution requires that all prosecutions by way of information end with the words of “against the peace and dignity of the state.” The duty of the prosecutor is not to bring satisfaction to the retributive instincts of victims but to protect the state and its citizens. While some retributive instincts may be necessary to be filled to satisfy the dignity of the state the real important subject matter is protecting its citizens. Sentencing must be guided by the danger of the defendant in being released to the general public. In many domestic cases this is a minimal risk.

It costs approximately $85,000 a year to incarcerate an individual. Thus, when a penalty of three years of prison is imposed on some person that is calling for an expenditure of state funds of $250,000. The victim may feel wronged and certainly has a right to bring suit against the perpetrator and extract from that perpetrator whatever is available to satisfy their need for retribution, but it is not necessary to penalize the tax payors where the major reason for doing so is not to protect the public but to make the victims feel better.

Admittedly in many retributive situations there is real damage to the individual in a physical sense and the victim’s compensation plan and the right to bring suit against the defendant is available.

Unfortunately, with every prosecution there are potential collateral consequences. Jailing of a family member may and will have serious effect on members of that family as well. Punishment that is ordered not to satisfy the protection of the public but to satisfy the victim is something that should be weighed carefully in attempting to reach justice.

There is nothing in the article that brought any sense of balance to a very difficult and complex situation. The police and charities fighting against sexual assault and domestic abuse also have a vested interest calling for stiffer penalties than might not be thought appropriate by objective observers who weigh all the factors in making a decision. We live in a time of the abuse of power. This article in my mind holds for a strengthening of the police side of executive power — abusive or not — in a time when a touch of mercy and of understanding would be well deserved.

Peter F. Langrock

Former State’s Attorney of Addison County