Realizing and understanding a problem is one of the most important steps of solving a problem. But in some cases, citizens must be careful in what they label a problem.

In the Times-Journal’s continuing effort to highlight — and help solve — the security problems in Selma, we believe many citizens have taken the purpose of bonds and heightened that purpose into something it is not.

In our judicial system, a person arrested for a crime is not guilty of that crime until he is tried and convicted. In that same system, nearly all suspects in crimes are guaranteed, by the U.S. Constitution, a bond. Of course, there are some cases where bonds can be revoked, as has been the case in Dallas County recently. For the most part, all suspects in crimes are granted the right to a bond.

Nowhere in the Constitution or law books does is say a bond is to be used for punishment. In fact, how can you punish a person for something he has not been found guilty of committing? You can’t, and we can’t allow our fear to alter our laws.

While citizens must realize a bond’s purpose, we also feel our judicial system must be more sensitive to public sentiment. Specifically, those criminals who have repeatedly committed the same offenses need to be given bonds that fit their patterns of crime.

This is not a spitting match between the public and a judge. This is not a mud-slinging affair between media and the court system. This is simply an issue that weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of those law-abiding citizens of Selma and Dallas County.

We, as should citizens, understand that a judge’s duty is not to create laws. A judge simply enforces the laws through his rulings. At the same time, we understand that the “Rules of Judicial Administration” clearly spell out that a bond schedule “should be regarded only as a guide for the exercise of judicial discretion.”

The crime issue in Selma is no different than in any other city. We have crime, and we’ll never stop every criminal. However, we understand that no other issue in this city matters as much as this one does right now.

Because of that, we urge the public to continue its support of our law enforcement, and we urge the judicial system and law enforcement to communicate better about what bonds are being set for what suspected criminals.

Every little piece will help solve this security puzzle.