Prosecutor begins 'challenging year'

Monroe County Prosecutor Chris Gaal has many aspirations for the new year, calling for citizens to cut down on everything from crime to underage drinking. \nAs a new prosecutor with a busy schedule and a newborn child, Gaal said he has a lot of work to do, balancing his court cases with his personal life. Additionally, he has public policy incentives that he said he hopes will make a difference in public safety. With a strong emphasis on crime and other violent offences, mental health issues and domestic violence, Gaal said he feels 2007 will be an exciting, yet challenging, year. \nIn terms of offenses involving violence, Gaal said that although crime is not extremely common around IU's campus or in Bloomington, enforcing harsh consequences will help deter any potential criminals.\n"(Even on campus) there are cases such as battery and rape, and those require the utmost attention," Gaal said. \nThough the IU campus is not known for crime, Gaal said he believes that illegal consumption of alcohol and drunk driving cases are all too common on campus. \n"I want to preach to all college students to let them have an opportunity to earn their way out of the problem onto a cleaner life," Gaal said. \nIn terms of domestic violence, Gaal is planning to work with Middle Way House Inc. to provide students access to the office so cases will be handled correctly.\n"We want to make our office more accessible and affordable," Gaal said. \nGaal said he believes in preventing past cases from reoccuring, especially in making the case for public intoxication tougher.\n"We want someone to evacuate repeat offenders, such as moving them to some place like the Center for Behavioral Health, if there is a persisting problem," he said.\nThis, he said, will keep the problems from continuing. \nAs a firm believer of working together with other community organizations and law enforcement officials, and previous experience in the court system, Gaal said he sees this year as being a successful one. \n"It's a fascinating job and a challenge, but I am lucky to be given this opportunity and work with other community partners," Gaal said.