Whitney Houston's Loss Is a Sobering Reminder of the Dangers of Substance Abuse If substance abuse didn't kill Whitney Houston, it was undoubtedly a co-conspirator. The icon who possessed perhaps the most powerful female voice in modern music history, along with eyes and a smile that could light up a Hollywood set, was famous for her addiction battle. There is little doubt that, at the end of the day, she drowned of a substance other than water. If the silencing of this song bird didn't bring you to tears, go back and watch her soaring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at the 1991 Super Bowl, available on YouTube.com. That moment, and her voice, will live forever. [continues 392 words]
Drugs did not spawn Mexico's organized crime networks. Just like alcohol prohibition gave rise to Al Capone, drug prohibition created the violent drug-trafficking organizations behind all the killings in Mexico. With alcohol prohibition repealed, liquor bootleggers no longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings. Mexico's upsurge in violence only began after an anti-drug crackdown created a power vacuum among competing cartels. Drug prohibition funds organized crime at home and terrorism abroad, which is then used to justify increased drug war spending. Like it or not, drugs are here to stay. Changing human nature is not an option. Reforming harmful drug laws is an option which Congress should pursue. Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. [end]
Bryan Watts illustrated very clearly that one of the worst things associated with cannabis (marijuana) is the discriminating punishment (Marijuana use: Don't think it can't happen to your child, Jan. 27) doled out by prohibitionist government. Cannabis prohibition is far worse than the relatively safe, extremely popular God-given plant itself. Watts testifies even though the plant can be stronger, people who use it are able to function very well. Cannabis prohibition forces the black market to regulate the plant, which makes it easier to acquire than alcohol or cigarettes. [continues 122 words]
Regarding "State's chief justice: Reform sentencing" (Metro, Jan. 26), I have served as a grand juror. I am bound by secrecy -- but, in general, a number of cases we heard amounted to "nuisance crimes." Some rise to a felony because of the relatively low threshold set in such cases, or offenders have prior misdemeanor convictions. I agree with the chief justice. Many who are charged are addicted to drugs or are mentally ill. They repeat offenses to support addiction. "Warehousing" them is not the answer. We should encourage rehabilitation through medical treatment, family support, education and imposing community or public service. Consider reclassifying low-grade felony crimes and try them as misdemeanors at the lower courts -- without mandatory prison sentences. The Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform's proposals should be implemented with potential savings redirected toward producing a more educated Georgia. C.S. Thachenkary, Atlanta [end]
In his State of the Union address last Tuesday, President Obama talked about the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, but didn't say a word about a war that is taking place next door, and that is killing more people than the others: the drug-related war in Mexico and Central America. Was it a careless omission? Or is Obama -- and, to be fair, his Republican critics -- deliberately overlooking one of the world's bloodiest wars because they don't have a clue what to do about it? [continues 509 words]
I just want to bring to light and let you know that there are more illegal drugs available to our high schools today than I can ever remember. I have I have been teaching for 12 years now. I have heard of or seen students in previous years that got "busted" here or "got caught" there, but never to the degree that has occurred this academic year. Parents, I am asking you to please talk to your children about the life changing affects that can occur not only from prolonged use, but also about what can happen if they are caught with drugs on their person or property. [continues 400 words]
Court's GPS Decision Upholds the Fourth Amendment How much should the government be able to spy on us? Well, it's a little less now than before Monday's Supreme Court ruling, thank goodness. The high court unanimously said that law enforcement officers cannot secretly attach global positioning system devices to cars to track criminal suspects without a search warrant issued by a judge. The fact that this very diverse and often split-decision court was unanimous indicates this ruling was as no-brainer as you're going to get at the highest court in the land. At the start of the 21st century, it's more than a little frightening to think about all the ways the government can already monitor us. With future technological developments certain, it's essential that this court draw a line in the sand to protect our rights going forward. [continues 226 words]
Conservative states across the South have altered their approach to criminal sentencing in recent years by replacing the tough-on-crime mantra with a "smart on crime" philosophy that supporters say saves money and could even cut repeat offenses. Georgia may be next. The General Assembly this winter will debate a shift in emphasis toward alternatives to prison time for nonviolent offenders, as suggested by a special council appointed last year to study the state's prison population and criminal code. The effect of its recommendations would be to send fewer people to jail for property and drug crimes and boost alternative punishments. [continues 1216 words]
An influential South Georgia judge accused of locking up defendants indefinitely and cutting off their access to relatives and lawyers will step down from the bench and avoid a potentially explosive trial. In a letter delivered Tuesday to Gov. Nathan Deal, Judge Amanda Williams of Brunswick said she intends to retire from the bench on Jan. 2. She also signed a consent order agreeing to never again seek or hold judicial office. In November, the state Judicial Qualifications Commission filed a dozen ethics charges against Williams. It accused her of jailing participants in her drug court for indefinite terms, giving false statements when asked about it, behaving in a tyrannical manner on the bench and allowing family members who were attorneys appear in cases before her. [continues 488 words]
As a taxpayer, I find our government's methods of funding the cleanup of meth labs to be disgustingly inept ("Flap throws off meth lab tracking," Metro, Dec. 1). Federal funding for this purpose ran out months ago (although millions were recently appropriated, along with more funds from Georgia's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council). Why should taxpayers get the bill for this? When a person is convicted of operating a meth lab in their house, judges should be able to order the sale of that house (or other property the meth maker may have), with proceeds going to a state fund to clean up meth labs. A meth lab is a danger to the whole neighborhood and expensive to clean up Government should look to the criminals - not the taxpayers - to pay for these irresponsible crimes. TONY GARDNER, CUMMING [end]
We built so many prisons in Georgia in the hope that it would deter drug use and intimidate drug dealers to find other work. Oops. What my profession did not tell you is that every drug dealer ever arrested or shot is replaced immediately. Drug prohibition created an excitement, a rebellion factor of the forbidden fruit, so drug use is still very high. If I can't have it, then I really want it. The evil in Georgia is drug prohibition. Drug use and abuse are, and will always remain, a problem, whether it is cocaine or alcohol. Even marijuana is too dangerous to leave in the hands of criminals and cartels. We need to become as sensible and wise as our grandparents and repeal this modern prohibition. Got a drug problem? See a doctor. Howard Wooldridge Albany [end]
Federal Funding Runs Out, Forcing Local Officers to Pay for Cleanup It's anyone's guess now whether methamphetamine production is rising or falling in Georgia. That's because a funding flap in Washington has thrown what was previously the best system for counting clandestine meth labs into uncertainty. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which used to track the number of meth labs by counting the number of requests for financial assistance from local law enforcement agencies, can no longer rely on that method. Federal funding for disposing of the toxic waste from clandestine meth labs ran out nine months ago, forcing police departments and sheriff's offices in Georgia to pick up a tab that last year amounted to more than $500,000. [continues 449 words]
It's interesting how, when the economy gets tough, common sense suddenly acquires bipartisan advocacy and the added virtue of affordability. Back in the flush and heady '90s, common sense all but vanished from the realm of criminal justice -- or rather (in fairness to those who didn't make the rules but bore most of their effects) from the politics of criminal justice. Money wasn't a problem, long-term consequences be damned, and get-tough, jail-'em-'til-they-rot demagoguery carried the day. [continues 370 words]
Friday mornings in Superior Court Judge Brian Amero's courtroom are as much about dispensing life lessons as exacting justice. Recently, the Henry County judge met with four drug addicts taking part in an innovative rehabilitation program created by Amero to get them well while saving taxpayers money. Instead of sitting on his bench, Amero talked face to face with each person, listening as they told about the challenges they faced during the week. One man complained about having to wait a long time to see his probation officer. A young woman wanted to know if she could waive paying some of what she owed the court so she could repay money she owed her grandfather. Another man came up short completing his community service hours. [continues 783 words]
In your recent "Red Ribbon Week" article " Colombian army colonel says war against cocaine changing," Colombian Col. William Galindo said the impact of cocaine has declined due to the presence of the police force and law enforcement. He could not be more wrong. It's shameful that the Ledger-Enquirer spouts WHINSEC lies without a bit of fact-checking. Despite more than 10 years and $8 billion of U.S. military aid, Colombia is still the number one cocaine producer in the world. Stopping drugs via interdiction efforts and military repression at the source does not work, which we've known for too long. Almost 20 years ago, the Rand Corporation published a study showing treatment and demand reduction 23 times more cost effective at reducing cocaine consumption than trying to control the source. [continues 117 words]
Shortening sentences for some nonviolent offenses and creating a statewide network of accountability courts could help prevent Georgia taxpayers from spending more than $250 million to accommodate an expanding prison population, a state panel said Friday. The Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform said changes are needed to control the unimpeded growth in state prison spending, which has doubled over the past two decades to $1.05 billion a year. The panel noted the growth is being fueled by drug and property offenders who account for about 60 percent of all prison admissions. [continues 742 words]
East Point Police Shooting: 7 At Scene Of Shooting Charged With Misdemeanors Seven people arrested during an East Point police drug search in which an officer fatally shot a man have been charged with violating a municipal code. Dwight Person, 54, was shot Thursday afternoon when, according to police, he made a threatening gesture at a female officer "that put her in fear of her safety." The officer, who has not been identified, fired one shot and hit Person. He was treated and the scene and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. [continues 371 words]
As a nation, we are facing some of the most challenging economic times of the past century. Many Georgians are confronted with the daily reality of tightening their wallets to secure the economic stability of their families. In addition, our dependency on entitlement programs has grown at an alarming and unsustainable rate. It is time for an era of responsibility and accountability. Georgia has a lot to be thankful for this year. The General Assembly worked hard to lessen the tax burden and reduce spending from the state budget. [continues 444 words]
The 1996 Welfare Reform Act authorized -- but did not require -- states to impose mandatory drug testing as a prerequisite to receiving state welfare assistance. In Florida and Michigan, the only two states where drug testing for welfare recipients has been tried, the courts have found that suspicionless searches of people -- simply because they are requesting assistance from the state -- are a violation of their Fourth Amendment rights. In Georgia, any proposed legislation that would require drug testing for applicants for state-funded benefits is likely to face the same fate. Being poor and in need in this country does not mean you forfeit your constitutional rights. [continues 298 words]
A Brunswick judge who runs the state's largest drug court operation was accused Wednesday of indefinitely detaining defendants who were not allowed to have any contact with their family or their lawyers. The Judicial Qualifications Commission also said in a court filing it must determine whether Chief Superior Court Judge Amanda Williams gave false statements, engaged in nepotism and favoritism and used rude, abusive and insulting language to those who have appeared before her in court. It also accuses Williams of violating a judicial canon that prohibited her from "using tyrannical partiality" when administering her duties. [continues 677 words]
Inside Georgia
