Pubdate: Sat, 28 May 2011
Source: Record Searchlight (Redding, CA)
Copyright: 2011 Record Searchlight
Contact:  http://www.redding.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/360
Author: William Shockley

DECRIMINALIZING DRUGS IS ANSWER

Regarding Jim Nielsen's hateful and fear-mongering words about the 
Supreme Court's decision to enforce the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution:

Applying the Constitution to the real world cannot be construed as 
"an egregious travesty of justice." In no way is this a parody of 
justice, but justice itself.

We could solve the problem of releasing over 30,000 prisoners by the 
simple method of decriminalizing most drugs. There are over 31,000 
prisoners in the California system for drug-related crimes. Fewer 
than half of prisoners in California are in for non-violent crimes. 
Between the two sets of criminals, 30,000 should be an easy number to 
find fit for release. But, of course, keeping prisoners inside is the 
main purpose of the prison system these days. And keeping them inside 
in inhumane conditions, to Nielsen's view, is an added perk.

William Shockley, Bella Vista
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom