Pubdate: Thu, 26 Dec 2013
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2013 Michael Berla
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Michael Berla

VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE U.S.

The Dec. 21 editorial "A golden opportunity" rightly called on the
United States to pressure Russia over human rights violations. Another
legitimate object of such pressure would be the United States, which
has the highest incarceration rate in the world.

A large percentage of people are incarcerated for nonviolent drug
infractions, in many cases for violating laws prohibiting possession
or use of marijuana. Convictions often require mandatory minimum
sentences. Such laws should have been amended to delete mandatory
minimum sentences decades ago.

Michael Berla, Columbia 
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