Pubdate: Fri, 05 Sep 2003
Source: State, The (SC)
Copyright: 2003 The State
Contact:  http://www.thestate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/426
Author: Freda Robinson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

PUT DRUG OFFENDERS ON MONITORING SYSTEM

What can be done to help this state with the budget crisis? My
suggestion is to take some of the inmates out of prison and have them
under a home monitoring system. Let there be a set fee the person
would pay on a weekly basis. A lot of first-time drug offenders have
been sentenced to long, fixed prison terms without even a chance of
rectifying their mistakes. These people could be out working and
paying taxes instead of being locked up for 15 to 25 years, which
costs the taxpayers more money each year.

This war on drugs is not working, and these mandatory sentences for
drug offenders are not working. The jails are getting fuller every
day, with some of the prisoners having to sleep on floors or three
prisoners to a two-prisoner cell.

Give these particular offenders another chance, and if they are repeat
offenders, put them back for the remainder of their mandatory sentence.

Freda Robinson

Chesnee
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin