Pubdate: Mon, 26 Mar 2001
Source: Idaho State Journal (ID)
Copyright: 2001 Idaho State Journal
Contact:  PO Box 431, Pocatello ID 83204
Fax: 208-233-8007
Website: http://www.journalnet.com/
Author: Robert Merkin

IDAHO'S SAVAGE VOTE CANDY

"Legislature Should Rethink Drug Offender Registry" (13 March) was a 
wonderful, smart and brave editorial.

Idaho's Senators are just grandstanding "We're tough on drugs!" to the 
Soccer Moms.

A pal I met when I ran a church homeless shelter has long ago finished all 
his obligations to the criminal justice system for a felony drug 
conviction. Against brutal odds, in dangerous housing (his record 
relentlessly gets him rejected from decent public housing), with 
practically no money, he's doing brilliantly in college and doing a 
remarkable job of rebuilding a productive life.

Idaho's Drug Offender Registry (and my state's, if this Really Lousy Idea 
catches on) would, out of the blue, shackle my friend to the criminal 
justice system for a new decade — or maybe forever.

In the shelters we call it "punishment after punishment." It's savage vote 
candy for perpetually re-electing scoundrel politicians that's completely 
replaced an older, decent and fair notion: "He's paid his debt to society."

We've become addicted to vengeance against non-violent drug offenders, and 
can't bear to let go. That means we can't bear the thought that they might 
succeed again in our communities.

And that means that what we really want most is for them to go back to 
prison. We're making recidivism our fault, not theirs.

Robert Merkin,

Northamton, Mass.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart