If it wasn’t so downright discouraging and – for obvious reasons – disturbing, it would almost (notice I say almost) be funny. You know what I mean, the constant stream of repeat offenders that one sees on a near-daily basis in the pages of The Evening Sun. Whether it’s your daily dose of the Police Blotter, a county court round-up or the monthly installment of grand jury indictments, more often than not there seems to be at least one or two (or three or four) names that “ring a bell,” if you get my drift.

Not that it hasn’t always been that way, I’m sure; every village, town and city has its fair share of troublemakers and ne’er-do-wells.

Regardless, it’s fairly easy to break the more serious criminal activities in our area down, if in a general sort of way: predatory sex, drugs and crimes committed in an effort to purchase and/or steal more drugs. And while alcohol abuse and drunk driving also rate right up there, well, that’s nothing new, is it?

The problem, as I’ve heard time and time again, is a lack of responsibility. I’ve heard this from judges, district attorneys, law enforcement and public defenders. And in all honesty, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard the phrase “take responsibility for their actions” in a court of law ... let’s just say I could go out and buy myself a nice, shiny pair of shoes. You know, the expensive ones, and I’d have a nice chunk of change leftover.

Responsibility, defined in cases such as these as “reliability or dependability, especially in meeting debts or payments.”

Because that’s what our local repeat offenders can’t seem to get through their head. When you commit a crime – once caught and convicted – it’s your duty to make-up for that crime to the community as a whole. In some cases, this is as simple as paying restitution or just appearing in court. In others, some time behind bars, either here on the county level or in state prison.

It’s that simple. And there’s always an excuse, trust me.

“My parents beat me as a child.”