How We See It: DWI Arrests Necessitate Quick Action

Every legal effort needs to be made to expedite the judicial system's handling of Jo Lynn Jackson's case.

Jackson has, in a can't-turn-your-eyes-away-from-the wreckage kind of way, become infamous in Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas. Little did anyone know when Jackson was convicted of negligent homicide and two counts of third-degree battery in 2011 that her name would become synonymous with driving while under the influence charges in the region. Three times this summer, Jackson has been arrested on DWI charges, but she has not been to trial on any of those charges yet.

What’s The Point?

A woman arrested three times in two months on DWI and other charges necessitates expediting the judicial process for public safety.

It was in September 2011 that city of Fayetteville employees Jackie Luper, Bradley Robbins and Bret Horn were busy in a lane of Joyce Boulevard. They were preparing for a project to smooth the road's surface along a stretch that had become rough. Jackson drove her car, in which her 12-year-old daughter was a passenger, into the construction zone as though it wasn't there. Her car plowed into Luper and also struck the other two. Luper died the next day. The city designated a section of Joyce Boulevard as the Jack Luper Memorial Boulevard.

Jackson, originally charged with driving while intoxicated due to prescription drugs in her system, eventually entered a plea that didn't include that charge. She served six months in the Washington County Detention Center and a year of probation.

This summer, however, Jackson's run-ins with the law have happened faster than the court system can adjudicate the previous one.

She was arrested June 8 on a charge of driving while intoxicated and others. She made bail of $1,780.

She was arrested in a separate incident Aug. 8. She made bail of $2,000.

Finally, on Aug. 20, Jackson was arrested after an off-duty police officer reported her car moving erratically in traffic.

Casey Jones, city prosecutor, said last week he hopes the higher bond helps keep her jailed while her cases go through the system. He took what he called an "unprecedented" move of asking that her earlier bonds be revoked. If she makes the higher bond, she'll be required to wear an ankle monitor that can detect alcohol, her location and her rate of travel. As of Friday, Jackson remained in jail.

Jones remarked at how frustrating Jackson's situation is because "she bonds out because she has that nasty presumption of innocence we all have until you're found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." We'll give him the benefit of the doubt that his word choice was simply poor and that he values that presumption. We all should.

There is just too much tragedy here, and the steps to keep Jackson off the streets until adjudication are necessary to prevent further tragedy.

We value the presumption of innocence and Jackson has every right to a strong defense in court. But until that process can take place, we applaud the efforts to inject more control into an out-of-control situation. It's better for Jackson, and it's better for the community.

Our hope is the judicial process can find a way to give everyone a chance for safety.

Commentary on 09/01/2014

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