Pubdate: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 Source: Topeka Capital-Journal (KS) Copyright: 2000 The Topeka Capital-Journal Contact: 616 S.E. Jefferson, Topeka, Kansas 66607 Website: http://cjonline.com/ Author: Dick Snider, Capital-Journal Columnist CASUALTY LIST CONTINUES TO GROW UNDER WAR ON DRUGS STRATEGY An editorial page cartoon by Stuart Carlson of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel showed a judge saying solemnly, "OK, maybe more blacks than whites get prison time for drug crimes, but you've got to expect casualties in the war on blacks." Then, in the next panel he hastily corrects himself and says, "er ... I mean, drugs!" The cartoon probably was inspired by a report published by Human Rights Watch titled "Punishment and Prejudice: Racial Disparities in the War on Drugs." It could be offered as proof the judge was right the first time. The report said that although five times more whites use drugs than blacks, 62 percent of drug offenders sentenced to the nation's state prisons are black. In some states the percentage of those imprisoned runs as high as 90 percent. There's disparity here, too. The report says the black/white incarceration rate per 100,000 residents of each race in 1996 was 1,947/199 in Kansas, 1,536/137 in Nebraska, 1,702/245 in Missouri, 2,681/284 in Oklahoma, and 1,794/137 in Colorado. Every state has sad tales of young men and women being sent to prison for long terms without the possibility of parole, and it's costing taxpayers millions of dollars. The Human Rights people say the big reasons most of them are black is because law enforcement goes after those easiest to catch in the drug business, and when they're caught they get the worst lawyers to represent them. As the report says, they are casualties of the War on Drugs, and they're not the only ones. And, for every casualty, there is a "soldier" on the law's side profiting from the miseries of the losers. Niki Christopher is an assistant appellate defender for the state of Kansas, and she recently wrote me: "I am well aware of the costs of our War on Drugs, and the tremendous money that is made by entities who purport to be fighting the war. Many of my clients are parole or probation violators who, in order to meet the conditions of their probation or parole, had to have drug testing as often as four to eight times a month, at $25-$35 per pop. I had one client who was required, because he was on both parole and probation, to report for testing twice a week. "He was making $5.25 an hour at a scrap metal yard, and had a wife and child. He deliberately violated his parole because it was impossible for him to make ends meet. ... "The minimum wage jobs that drug offenders often have to settle for while on probation or parole hardly cover the testing charges, let alone allow them to make progress on paying fines, attorney and court fees, or the restitution payments that they often are ordered to pay. "Those ordered into drug counseling or treatment have to pay exorbitant fees for that as well. Few of these programs are operated or funded by government or non-profit organizations. Many private companies are extracting enormous profits from residential treatment, out-patient counseling, drug testing, etc. "Forcing individuals into financial slavery to companies eager to make profits from the War on Drugs is unconscionable." Liz Boltz of Summerland, Calif., e-mailed me: "As a child welfare investigator I am well aware of the shortage of funding for treatment and rehabilitation. None of the 'found' money (seized from drug dealers by law enforcement agencies) trickles down to children who are either prenatally exposed to drugs or forced to live in foster homes because of the drug problems of their parents." The state of Missouri has taken steps to see that some of the cash and property confiscated from drug peddlers goes to educational programs. Major Murdock of Manhattan wrote: "The editorial in the June 26 Kansas City Star summarized the result of an ongoing Star investigation into the disbursal of drug seizures on the part of Missouri law enforcement agencies. Seems law enforcement has been told that from now on it will share the wealth with the state's educational programs, as has for some time been mandated by law." It's not that way in Kansas, where state law directs that the cash and property seized, including the $3.7 million recently taken in Colby, go to law enforcement agencies, and be used only for more law enforcement. However, a news release from the International Drug Strategy Institute, of which Topeka Dr. Eric Voth is chairman, says at least five states are voting on legalizing marijuana, and also that there are "several initiatives" in states that would strip drug forfeiture money from law enforcement agencies. You can bet politicians smelled it, and now they want it. Note: Dick Snider's e-mail address is --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager