Alternatives to Incarceration
Drug Warriors for Sensible Drug Policy
Some interesting comments from former drug czar Barry McCaffrey at Huffington Post:
And here's Robert Weiner, former spokesman at the drug czar's office, writing in the Baltimore Sun:
So why are these prominent drug warriors now criticizing U.S. drug policy for its perpetual focus on enforcement and incarceration? The short answer is probably that they now work as consultants with clients in the drug treatment industry who love seeing editorials like these.
But I'd like to think that on some level they feel maybe just a little bit responsible for their role in filling our prisons with an unfathomable number of people who don't belong there.
Our traditional justice system has been inadequate to the task of breaking the cycle of substance abuse and crime. Four out of every five offenses are committed by someone with a drug or alcohol problem; and we just keep locking them up!
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Given the abysmal outcomes of incarceration on addictive behavior, there's absolutely no justification for state governments to continue to waste tax dollars feeding a situation where generational recidivism is becoming the norm and parents, children and grandparents may find themselves locked up together.
And here's Robert Weiner, former spokesman at the drug czar's office, writing in the Baltimore Sun:
Whyâ¦is the Obama administration proposing to spend an even higher percentage of its anti-drug resources on law enforcement than the administration of George W. Bush?
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Mr. Kerlikowske has said, "It is only through a balanced approach - combining tough but fair enforcement with robust prevention and treatment - that we will be successful in stemming both demand and supply of illegal drugs." Yet, in the 2010 budget, there is a 3.3 percent reduction in treatment and prevention initiatives since 2008, exacerbating the bias toward enforcement, which now represents 65.6 percent of the budget, even higher than the last administration's 62.3 percent.
So why are these prominent drug warriors now criticizing U.S. drug policy for its perpetual focus on enforcement and incarceration? The short answer is probably that they now work as consultants with clients in the drug treatment industry who love seeing editorials like these.
But I'd like to think that on some level they feel maybe just a little bit responsible for their role in filling our prisons with an unfathomable number of people who don't belong there.
If Youâre in California, Support Treatment-Not-Incarceration for Drug Offenses
This is a final reminder for folks in California. Vote Yes on Prop. 5 tomorrow to provide treatment instead of incarceration for drug offenders.
Why Do Prison and Alcohol Lobbies Oppose Drug Treatment?
Iâve been severely remiss in failing thus far to cover the very important Prop. 5 in California. The Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act (NORA) would save billions in incarceration costs by referring many drug offenders into treatment instead of prison. Itâs a significant reform and the vested drug war interests are in full-blown panic mode trying to defeat it.
The drug czar is in California right now campaigning against it, and a whoâs who of drug war profiteers have assembled a well-funded No on 5 campaign, branding Prop. 5 as "the drug dealerâs bill of rights." So who exactly is funding opposition to this commonsense drug treatment initiative?
DPA director Ethan Nadelmann explains via email:
Isnât it obvious whatâs going on here? The prison industry lobbies shamelessly to keep as many people in prison as possible. The alcohol industry defends the interests of the criminal justice infrastructure that protects their monopoly on legal intoxication. And yet the drug czar has the audacity to present George Sorosâs support for reform as some kind of shady conspiracy. Itâs just amazing, it really is.
Itâs not even my style to go around accusing our opposition of unscrupulous drug war profiteering at every turn, but what else is there to say about this? Itâs right in front of our face. Itâs as transparent as it is hypocritical. And it canât be allowed to succeed.
If you live in California, please vote YES on Prop. 5 and tell everyone you know to do the same.
The drug czar is in California right now campaigning against it, and a whoâs who of drug war profiteers have assembled a well-funded No on 5 campaign, branding Prop. 5 as "the drug dealerâs bill of rights." So who exactly is funding opposition to this commonsense drug treatment initiative?
DPA director Ethan Nadelmann explains via email:
Last week the powerful prison guards union contributed $1 million to the opposition campaign. That's on top of hundreds of thousands of dollars from Indian tribes/casinos with close links to law enforcement as well as $100,000 from the California Beer and Beverage Distributors.
Isnât it obvious whatâs going on here? The prison industry lobbies shamelessly to keep as many people in prison as possible. The alcohol industry defends the interests of the criminal justice infrastructure that protects their monopoly on legal intoxication. And yet the drug czar has the audacity to present George Sorosâs support for reform as some kind of shady conspiracy. Itâs just amazing, it really is.
Itâs not even my style to go around accusing our opposition of unscrupulous drug war profiteering at every turn, but what else is there to say about this? Itâs right in front of our face. Itâs as transparent as it is hypocritical. And it canât be allowed to succeed.
If you live in California, please vote YES on Prop. 5 and tell everyone you know to do the same.
Obama Comes Out Against Mandatory Minimums
It's about time. We've been concerned about Obama's perspective on drug policy, but it looks like he's coming around:
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) outlined his civil rights platform Friday, saying that if elected president, he would target racial disparities in the U.S. justice system through a host of measures, including relaxing drug sentencing laws.
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"We have a system that locks away too many young, first-time, non-violent offenders for the better part of their lives - a decision that's made not by a judge in a courtroom, but all to often by politicians in Washington and state capitals around the country," Obama said. [AHN]
Obama also pledged to address the crack/powder sentencing disparity, which he's sounded reluctant to do previously.
How could anyone disagree with him? Sentencing reform has become standard fair for the democratic candidates, and I've yet to hear the republicans dispute it. Maybe, just maybe, this one issue can escape the icy death grip of partisan politics. Maybe we can all just agree to stop treating petty drug offenders like murderers and rapists. Can we give this a try? Please?
Incarceration Nation: Number of People in State Prisons Declines for First Time Since Nixon, New Report Finds
The number of people doing time in state prison declined last year for the first time since bell-bottom jeans were in fashion, although just barely. Could we be seeing the first rumblings of a seismic shift in prison population trends?
The Year on Drugs 2009: The Top Ten US Domestic Drug Policy Stories
What a year! A lot happened in 2009 when it comes to drug policy, much of it good. Last issue we reviewed the international developments. This last week of the year, we take a look at what we see as the ten most important domestic drug policy stories the year brought us.
Feature: 2009 International Drug Policy Reform Conferences Opens Amid Optimism in Albuquerque
The Drug Policy Alliance's 2009 International Drug Policy Reform Conference got underway Thursday in Albuquerque, and it looks like the biggest yet. Here's an initial report from the conference opening. Look for much more next week, too.