Pubdate: Thu, 22 May 2008 Source: Tallahassee Democrat (FL) Copyright: 2008 Tallahassee Democrat Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/hdEs6Z0o Website: http://www.tallahassee.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/444 Author: Candace Swain Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n505/a09.html YOUNG PEOPLE USED TO SURVIVE BAD JUDGEMENT Re: "Hysteria and blame replaced mourning" (My View, May 17). The "My View" of defense attorney Jeremy Cohen reeks of propaganda. Defense attorneys generally oppose the position of the state. Is there a better paying slot opening in the prosecuting attorney's office? Would Mr. Cohen have advised Rachel Hoffman to do the deal? There was no hysteria, there was outrage. In my day, we survived our mistakes. In today's world, we cut vast amounts of money from rehabilitation yet find money to build prisons. Until we place more emphasis on behavioral rehabilitation and counseling, and less on the vast amount of revenue generated by the prison industrial complex, more lives will be wasted. Until the gateway drug alcohol is prohibited, America's stance of zero tolerance is nothing more than pick-and-choose. Candace Swain - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin