Judge Prentiss Harrell
By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher
Fifteenth District Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell has responded to allegations made about him by his opponent in the election.
Harrell’s opposition in the race, Joe Turney of Columbia, accused Harrell of being inconsistent on the bench. Harrell responded by saying that Turney is “entitled to his opinion.” Harrell said he deals with defendants on an individual basis and tries to be consistent. In some cases the defendants need to be treated sternly while in other cases there are mitigating circumstances, the judge said.
If elected, Turney said he would not allow personal opinion to influence his decision when it comes to the law. Harrell said personal opinions “always color our decisions,” but as judge “my responsibility is to follow the law, and I feel like I have.”
Harrell added that he took an oath to be fair and impartial, and he feels like he has upheld that duty. Turney also asserted that Harrell has not run Drug Court properly, but Harrell said, “I will not be put on the defensive by him (Turney). My record speaks for itself.”
Harrell suggested speaking with those involved in the Drug Court program and ask them about his performance. “I’m not going to argue publicly,” Harrell said, noting that the Drug Court has been successful.
Harrell is a graduate of the Mississippi College Law School and had his own private practice in Hattiesburg before being elected Circuit Court judge. He has been in office one term and likes the work because he can make a difference in people’s lives.
judge why didnt you follow the law when my case came up,the statue of limitations was up and even both lawyers agree that they were up and even YOU AGREE.but u said that base on your opinon u felt that it should go to court.i am a poor man and i was accuse of something i had no control over.but instead of up holding the law,you made your oppion of what should be done,the correct thing should have been dismissal and you know it,i promise i will do ever thing in my power to vote you out of office,like you said you took a oath and YOU BROKE IT.!!!!!!! JOE TURNEY YOU HAVE MY VOTE AND A BUNCH MORE AND THATS A FACT AND A PROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I admire this man. His counter responce and reactions to this Mr. Turney’s allegations against him speaks well for himself and shows who has more integrity and who the better man is. I really commend the way Judge Harrell handled this nonsense attact on his career.
Let it be known that I have never “accused” Judge Harrell of anything in speaking with Mitchell, but merely cited Judge Harrell’s consistency, or lack of, which is a matter of record. Of course I believe I can do a better job or why else would I run against an equally qualified incumbent? Furthermore, both bench decisions/sentences and the drug court stats are a matter of public record existing in all five counties of our district and available upon request by anyone interested in a fully informed independent opinion. Don’t take my word for it! Take a look and vote you conscience! There is a substantial difference between replying that “I feel like I have followed the law” and “I have followed the law.”
Mr. Mitchell, what happened to the ink where I made positive remarks pertaining to my opponent?!!!
Positive Remarks???
That part don’t catch the readers eyes joseph…lol It’s the dirty laundry that gets attention..
As for the race, Good Luck, Harrell has been wayyy to easy on offenders.. When convicts get slapped on the wrist, it’s not a real life altering experience..
When they get put in jail it is, look at the statistics and then comment again?
JUDGE HARRELL YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. WHY THROW FIRST TIME NON VIOLENT CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS WHEN THEY CAN BETTER THEIRSELVES. WE DESERVE A CHANCE. YOU GOT MY VOTE AND HALF OF COLUMBIA;S. I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT. YAAAAA FOR JUDGE HARRELL!!!!!!!!!
If you do the crime…..you should do the time. Then you can go better yourself! YOU HAD A CHANCE TO NOT BREAK THE LAW!!!
judge harrell you have mine and many others that i know votes
I have watched what Judge Harrell has done while in office, Joe has my vote and support
We’ll I agree of the inconsistent manner he is operating from the bench. You have kids being hooked on drugs and stealing from people by breaking into peoples houses, and stealing 4 wheelers. To buy drugs, that was proven and all judge harrell said was letting you go because dont want you to have a felony on your record. This young man has terriorized the community that he lives in.
Yes Judge your record is definitely speaking or its self.Loud and clear, easy on crime.
Judge Harrell’s recent record reflects people being convicted of felonies but the SAME people will not have a felony record! He had a few of them writing essays which, by his own judicial orders, were not to include any “FLUFF!”
If I could get away with committing felonies and only have to write a good essay, you better believe I would “fluff” it up! I would have readers in tears due to a fictitious “hard life” as well as having them believe this 2nd chance would help me in becoming the 1st female US President.
Lets see…hows “My Mother beat for asking for help on my homework so that is why I CHOSE to break the LAW” for a title for an essay?
Why would anyone fear getting into trouble if all they have to do is write a litte story if they did? The next writing assignment he might pass out may include: writing 1000 times on the black board: I promise not to rape, rob, and/or pillage the village!”
Playing politics with peoples lives is exactly what Joe Turney does best. When you can befriend someone and then turn around and slander and condemn that same someone all because it benefited a client that retained you, just goes to show exactly what Joe Turneys all about.Friendship doesn’t matter when someone can line that pockett full of gold. I know,because that is exactly what Joe Turney did. His quote,”I will not allow personal opinions to affect my decisions when it comes to the law”, is an out and out lie.In a recent court case that Joe Turney was trying the judge stopped the hearing due to the fact that Joe Turney was to “PERSONALLY” involved in the case. I know, because i have the transcript to prove it. So where is your accountability Mr. Turney? When the first statement you give out to the public is a lie. The only thing Joe Turney seems to be consistent on is running his mouth and condeming others to benefit himself. It would be rather interesting to see just what Mr. Turneys law record is. How many cases has he actualy won and who paid the price because of it.
To: No Doubt
Please let the citizens know what the transcripts say because we need to know. We have a right to know if we should or should not vote for someone. Seems like you have personal insight in this matter
Feel free to provide a copy of that transcript to anyone who request it.
Mr. Turney, I’m not saying Judge Harrell is right or wrong, I don’t know.. I dont believe that drug users or thiefs should be given second chances. They had a chance to change their mind right before they stole or sold drugs. Being as I am in this situation right now with a person who broke in my home and stole 4 of our guns and has a Felony charge against him and I’m not the first one he has done this to I’m just the first one to press charges and not drop them. If anyone breaks the law they need to pay for it and they need to learn a lesson. I dont think given them 2nd chances is teaching them a lesson if you know what you did was wrong therefore you should be held accountable for it, I can see if someone made a mistake or it was something they didnt know was illegal and was given a 2nd chance to make it right and never do it again but when you steal or sale drugs YOU KNOW that is wrong and you should pay for it. But my comment above was in regards to the way Judge Harrell responded to your allegations. Its always bothered me to see political opponents slur each other. And in my years of voting, I have seen so many promise this and promise that and Its like they just tell us what we want to hear and then we vote them in based upon these promises and slap me in the face it never happens. So when I see attacts like this it makes me a bit sceptical of who I vote for. All I know is we definitely need somebody to come in a make sure these criminals are MADE held accountable for the crimes they have committed, and MAKE them learn a lesson and not given chances to get back out in the communities to do it again. In fact they should make it so tough on them that they wouldnt think twice about doing it again. AND THAT’S THE WAY I FEEL!!!
I appreciate your comment and understand your position. I did not create the drug court, as Judge Harrell honestly did a fine job in getting it established with reliable personnel. My position is that “if” a person qualifies for drug court, that is their second and only chance. If they violate any of the conditions and obligations of that tremendous opportunity, including not paying fines, fees, and restitution, they will be violated, adjudicated, and suffer the standard penalties imposed by the law such as the RID program (MDOC’s boot camp) or introduced into general population (incarcerated). The program also has sufficient beneficiaries that if they pay what they are supposed to, it should be self supporting and not a burden to the taxpayers of the counties. I also feel that the suspended sentence in years held over a person’s head when adjudicated generally should be longer as it is an incredible motivation for the individual to stay out of trouble and a violation will result in a long time away from home protecting the community.
Mr. Turney do you realize what the state of Mississippi in regards to budget is facing when it comes to releasing inmates?
This is a tough one. Both candidates are so very competent and seem so very sincere. I’m glad to see Turney comment on here.
Thank you no dought. For telling the truth. All Joe wants is a pocket or gold. He has his picks. And he don’t win to many of his cases. And he chardes way to much anyway. Judge Harrell you have my vote 100 percent. Go judge harrell!!!!!!!!!
If I understand your question, releasing inmates could potentially result in a lesser burden to the taxpayer, at least for the short term, depending on the choices made by those individuals after being released. If you are asking my position on the issue of whether it should occur, I would have no authority on the issue as that is up to the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) and the legislature with any new law passed, so my opinion has no bearing on the issue. Once a judge sentences, the MDOC has authority to hold or release based on their policy and the current law. Lengthy suspended sentences, being that portion of the sentence held in abeyance and not to be served up front, is an effective tool for extending the Court’s authority to send an individual, who has been released, back to MDOC custody pretty quickly for up to the full suspended sentence should they be found to have violated the conditions of their parole.
I was responding to “tired”.
Judge Harrell is in part giving second chances so that we are not pushing tons of nonviolant drug offenders/ property offenders into our system which is to over crowded now. What are you gonna do if allected?
Follow the law in a fair and impartial manner, whether I agree with it or not.
Currently, the law only allows for one “second chance” without adjudication (nonadjudication= no felony). Therefore, you can’t offer another “second chance” for a later violation through nonadjudication without also violating the law as a public official sworn to uphold it.
Also, as I have stated before, I am not against a “second chance” when the circumstances and facts are fitting, but how many chances do you give any individual for not following the conditions of their “second chance” before the authority of the law and the court are not taken seriously. There must be true accountability for ones actions and we are talking about adults. The court should not be so focused on changing difficult people that it becomes an adult daycare and usurps the functions of the legislature in making its own law and of the MDOC in monitoring offenders. A second chance for a clear record and avoiding incarceration must be earned and if earned, will mean more to the individual as a life lesson.
Finally, if the State of Mississippi does not have sufficient resources for these purposes, do you think one single judicial district in the State does?
it doesnt matter what you do to someone… if they dont wanna change they’re not going to. i know people who have been to prison 3 and 4 times and they get out and do the same thing over again.
Judge Harrell Prentiss in my opinion is like a roller coaster ride as far as decision making before his court. Tomorrow 5/14/10 I’ll have to wait and see how he decides on a rape case. My opinion is we will see if the good old boy syndrome kicks in. I guess time will tell as they say and tomorrow seems to be when times up for me to DECIDE.
Yeah, I like Judge Harrell too. It’s easy for us to read about the sentences handed down and feel like the judge was too easy on some, but it has to be different for the judge. He knows much more than we do about each case and is eye to eye with that defendant, able to more accurately assess their intent and character. And if he makes a misjudgment and one of those defendants who gets a break turns out to be a born criminal, a genuinely ‘bad’ person who can’t/won’t do right & needs to be locked up, then it will catch up with them, and they’ll be back.
(‘Cause you just can’t fix stupid.)
If any of you will talk to people who work in law enforcement or in the judicial system, you will LEARN what has been going on since Judge Harrell was elected. It is a JOKE! If you are truly in favor of justice for victims of crime, you will NOT vote for Harrell. He is soft on crime and criminals. We need another Judge Prichard….now there’s a judge who knows how to preside in a courtroom! Judge Prichard has EARNED respect, he was not just elected to a position.