In two articles published last July, the Associated Press reported on shortcomings in the training of constables, as well as in the oversight of those individuals whose job it is to serve legal papers, transport prisoners and perform other duties for the state's magisterial district courts.

Now Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille has an idea for fixing the problems — an idea that, at least on the surface, seems to have merit.

But there is at least one other proposal in the works that ought to be given a serious look as well. Perhaps there are elements of both proposals that, if combined, would provide a better solution than either of the plans individually.

The issue deserves tough scrutiny of all proposals before a statewide plan ultimately is adopted, and Butler County officials ought to be part of that discussion.

What Castille has settled on for now is for the high court's Minor Court Rules Committee to study a handbook for constables currently used in Chester County, to see if it can be adopted statewide.

According to an Associated Press article published in Wednesday's edition of the Butler Eagle, Chester County is one of a few Pennsylvania counties that maintains a handbook for constables.

To its credit, Butler County also is one of those counties, having adopted a modified version of Chester County's handbook last year.

Meanwhile, state Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, said the "first round in probably a 10-round fight" should be to collect in a single code the elements of various state laws that deal with constables.

While Butler County might not need the efforts of Castille, Caltagirone and others in regard to constable issues, thanks in part to the county manual as well as a constables advisory board created here in 2008, what the AP revealed in its articles last summer gave adequate notice that there are places in the commonwealth where remedial action is necessary.

In its July articles, the AP described dozens of cases of serious misconduct by constables over the past decade.

Pennsylvania has about 1,200 active, trained, insured constables. But as time has shown, training and qualifications are no guarantee that all of them always will perform their duties appropriately — as the AP articles made clear.

Castille has said he would be seeking input from constables, trial judges and district judges before adopting a new set of constable standards. Despite Butler County officials' confidence in what has been adopted here, local officials should participate in discussions about Castille's statewide objectives and offer suggestions about what is working well here.

Castille said his approach to the constable issue is to implement the necessary change "without having to go through legislation, or constitutional amendments." Indeed, his plan would seem to represent a speedier approach.

But what's most important is that, if a statewide plan is going to be put into effect, it fully addresses the issues and, for Butler County, doesn't erode what already is working well here.

Last year, the Associated Press showed that the state has been lax in regard to the constable system. Now it's important that any purported fixes that are implemented are truly what they are intended to be.