Pubdate: Sat, 14 Sep 2002
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2002 The Des Moines Register.
Contact: http://DesMoinesRegister.com/help/letter.html
Website: http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123
Author: Frank P. Belcastro

ONE WAY TO EMPTY PRISONS: DECRIMINALIZE USE OF DRUGS

The Register's Aug. 30 editorial, "Empty More Prison Cells," advocating 
greater use of parole and probation, makes excellent suggestions.

However, overlooked is still another suggestion that would have a greater 
impact in reducing the number of inmates in prisons: Stop posturing about 
being hard on crime and decriminalize the use of drugs.

This would still make the use of drugs illegal, but it would reduce the 
space needed in prisons by one-third. An even greater impact would be on 
the police force where a greater deal of its time would be spent on serious 
crimes, on the court system where one-third of its time could be spent on 
the backlog of serious cases and on the entire justice system.

It is hypocritical of the Legislature to make drug use and distribution 
illegal while the greater drugs of tobacco and alcohol remain legal at 
tremendous economic, social and psychological expense.

Frank P. Belcastro

Dubuque
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