The American justice system isn't perfect. Sometimes innocent individuals - whether they are public officials or private citizens - get swept into that system and have to spend large amounts of time and/or money before they can escape what seems to be a nightmare.

But setting up a separate system to screen complaints against public officials, as suggested by McLean County Clerk Peggy Ann Milton, would be a mistake.

Everyone - from the richest to the poorest, from the most well known public figure to least known private person - is entitled to the same treatment.

As a practical matter, some people have access to greater resources than others. Some people will be able to hire the "best" lawyers and skilled investigators.

The key is to ensure that everyone's rights are protected and proper procedures are followed.

Any problems in the system should be addressed in a manner that benefits all.

Milton's criticism of the current system is understandable.

Although a jury ultimately acquitted her of two counts of official misconduct, Milton said her legal bills exceeded $40,000.

The dispute centered on the use of stamps for charity mailings and was triggered by a woman who was described as a disgruntled employee.

Milton would like to see a special, independent review panel screen complaints against public officials before a formal investigation is launched.

In response to Milton's complaint, the staff of state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, is looking at procedures used in Dade County, Fla., to review serious complaints and government employees.

An advisory panel looks into complaints against police, government departments and public employees there before sending recommendations to other officials for further reviews.

However, with a population of close to 2½ million people, Dade County undoubtedly has a higher volume of complaints of this nature than McLean County or most counties in Illinois. And in a county the size of McLean, it's more likely that someone on the special review panel would be acquainted with the individuals involved, raising questions of impartiality.

If special prosecutors are being overzealous in their investigations, as Brady seemed to suggest, or if grand juries are too much of a rubber stamp for prosecutors, as others have suggested, then those problems should be addressed directly rather than creating a separate system to go around them.

As McLean County administrator John Zeunik told a Pantagraph reporter, "My feeling is everybody should be entitled to the same due process, regardless of the position or title they hold."