Probation dept.. mess

The state senate plan to deal with the mess at the probation department is too little, too late. The state legislature broke the probation department. Nine years ago it took authority for the agency from the courts. The problems of patronage and abuse were well known and even Gov. Patrick tried to do some thing about them. But the legislature refused to deal with the problems. Now, finally, the senate proposes "joint authority" and a commission. Joint authority means no accountability and we do not need studies to know that the courts should control what happens in court houses. We should demand an investigation to find out which legislators took advantage of the probation mess.