Congress is coming after a federal judge in Minnesota who, it asserts, has let drug offenders off too easily, triggering a tug-of-war over the independence of the judiciary. One side is pulling to retain discretionary power on the bench. The other is yanking for more oversight. At issue is an effort by Congress to subpoena U.S. District Judge James Rosenbaum's records on drug cases over the last four years. In an unprecedented and controversial move that has judges nationwide expressing concern, the House Judiciary Committee has threatened to issue subpoenas for records relating to Rosenbaum's sentencing decisions, and has requested a federal review of the entire Minnesota federal bench as part of a broader inquiry into drug sentencing. [continues 1770 words]
Police in three Chicago-area communities--Vernon Hills, Winthrop Harbor and Park Forest--have begun a controversial new program in which they hand out drug-testing kits to parents who think their children might be using drugs. Police say the program's intent is to bring families closer together, but teenagers and family counseling experts say it might have the opposite result. "I feel it violates my rights," said 17-year-old Joel Muller of Vernon Hills, who said parents should instead talk to their kids about drugs. [continues 875 words]
The Vernon Hills Police Department is offering free home drug testing kits for local families who suspect drug use might be going on in their homes, police announced Thursday. Police believe the drug kits, which test for marijuana, cocaine, crack and PCP, will help build honest communication among families who might be experiencing drug problems. Each Drug Sensor kit contains a urine collection bottle, confidential ID numbers and a handbook with instructions. Participants can mail the urine samples to a laboratory in a postage-paid box, then call a toll-free number in three to five days to learn the results. [continues 62 words]
