Holly Danks begins her piece as follows:

Drastic cuts due if courts fall short

HILLSBORO -- Plans to cut court budgets mean accused thieves, trespassers and vandals won't be tried; reckless drivers won't face consequences; and business owners won't be able to collect on debts.

Danks continues later with a quote

"A large part of the criminal justice process is morally sanctioning those who violate the law and vindicating the victim," Metcalfe said. "When you say to a whole community or state that we aren't going to help you, it really leaves people with no other options."

She is looking in the wrong direction to find the real boogey man. Look again to the glorious salaries of the highest paid Tier-One public employees. The retired Tier-One employees should be feeling a bit of guilt every time they receive huge retirement checks (Which Includes Retired Judges). Those Tier-One employees at the top who have not yet retired are rightfully very anxious, there is not enough money for both of them AND enough left over for the government to continue serving basic functions.

UPDATE: The AP chimes in with a reference to the Mandatory Sentencing Laws.

Kulongoski, reportedly understands the end result. Whether he has the will or vision to attack its root causes remains to be seen.

If the projected PERS shortfall continues, he said, “what it will mean is we will be diverting more and more money into the retirement system, which will mean there will be less money for government programs and there will be less government employees.

UPDATE: The Register-Guard joins the fear mongering.