It Just Doesn’t Add Up

By Mark David Blum, Esq.

I read again in this morning’s newspaper about yet another drug sweep here in the City of Syracuse. According to the news, ten homes in the City were raided and sixteen people were arrested.

Also, the following items were seized: 33.5 grams (about 1.2 ounces) of crack cocaine, $10,424 in cash, a .22-caliber rifle, a .380-caliber pistol, 116 grams of marijuana, and 1.5 grams of powder cocaine.

Eighty five law enforcement members took part in the sweep. Among them were “officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the state Division of Parole and the Onondaga County Probation Department, city police said. The U.S. Attorney's Office and the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office also participated.”

Such a massive operation caused me to ponder the following questions.

(Your responses thereto would be interesting; especially in these times when the City of Syracuse is showing a massive budget shortfall and the County is choking on its own lack of tax base. So tell me, what say you?)

What is the street value of the drugs seized? I estimate, overall, about ten second’s worth, overall, City-wide.

What impact do the seized quantities have upon supply? An one hour interruption? One day?

Which if any of the guns seized were legally owned? How many of those will be returned to their owners? What about the cash?

How much money has already been spent in investigation and arrest? I ponder the cost of just the sweep. Eighty five people times how many hours each plus the cost of equipment and fuel. How much of that was overtime or resources diverted from terrorism, robberies, and rape?

How many of the 16 defendants will now need a lawyer, housing, processing through the system, Merrill’s Drug Court, use of court time and resources, medicare resources, insurance resources, and/or long term incarceration?

How many marriages have been disrupted? How many children will lose one or both of their parents? Who is going to pay for their support and future public assistance needs?

How many will be able to lead productive lives after their contact with the criminal justice system is over?

How many are white? How many are Black?

Finally …

Was it all worth it?