Meth busting - work that matters

MEA-MFT member Joel Thompson is the latest public employee featured in MEA-MFT’s Work That Matters campaign.

This award-winning campaign “puts a face” on the public employees who keep Montana running smoothly.

Thompson’s photo and story appear on a new postcard mailed to Montana state and local policy makers. They also appeared in newspaper ads across the state in late September. Here’s what the card and the ad say:

Joel Thompson is a deputy county attorney in Cascade County, where he has prosecuted felony crimes—mostly drug offenses—for the last five years.

Methamphetamine labs are on the rise in rural Montana, and so are violent drug-related crimes. Joel sees the heartbreaking impacts on Montana families.

“Abuse and distribution affect almost every other offense we see,” says Joel. “It’s very hard emotionally, seeing our citizens fall prey to terrible things every day.”

Joel decides what charges will be filed, screening out addicts who might benefit from treatment and prosecuting the real criminals. “Experience in this job is so important,” he says.
Unfortunately, many county attorney officers are under-funded in Montana. The low pay and heavy workload make it hard to keep experienced, effective attorneys on staff.

Without people doing this work, Joel says, “the criminal justice system in our communities would disappear.”

Montana needs Joel Thompson. We are asking policy makers to find the revenue needed to keep Joel, and other public employees, doing the work that matters for Montana.

Thanks, Joel, for all you do!

Read about other Amazing MEA-MFT members.