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Schneider Defense Calls DOJ Prosecution Unconstitutional: Read the Briefs

Am I that easy to read? After every conference I attend, I send a short note to each person I talked to & remind them of LEAP. From Dr. George (Jorge) a doctor employed by a federal agency (I wrote to him in Spanish) he wrote:‘estoy alegre que estas vivo y coleando.’ Coleando? I had no clue. Translation = I am glad you are still alive and nagging = must be Spanish for ‘Troublemaker.’ LOL Moment to remember: On Saturday I joined about 400 law enforcement members on a motorcycle run to the Police Officer’s Memorial in DC. My original intention was to politic but as soon as I saw the two walls with the names of 18,000 fallen officers, I never even started. The ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms…a federal agency) had made nice 6 X 9 inch (15cm x 25cm) cards of their fallen agents. I was struck by how many had died a LODD (Line of Duty Death) between 1919 and 1933. After 10 minutes I realized I knew one name on the wall. I moved over to section 33W row 22: Gary Priess. We had worked in adjoining townships and had a friendly rivalry of who made the most traffic stops each year. While on a traffic stop in 2000, he was struck by a tractor-trailer. He was 44. I squatted there for many minutes, touching his name, remembering the good times. A hand touched my shoulder and squeezed. Such was the day. Privacy Rights Anyone? On Wednesday I attended all day and was the last speaker at the GOAL conference (Gay, Lesbian, Trans-gender law enforcement professionals). I listened for two hours as these officers told their difficult story of coming out in the open as a gay man, etc. I should not have been surprised by how similar it is for officers to ‘come out’ against the Drug War/Drug Prohibition. Both are potential problems for the officer. LEAP allows members to ‘stay in the closet’ with our ‘stealth’ membership. The response was about the same as a Rotary/Kiwanis club…most agreed & some could not wrap their minds around allowing an adult to buy a few grams of cocaine at the same place they buy their whiskey.

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #366 - Monday, 19 May 2008 Another civilian alleged to be guilty of nothing more than possession of ecstasy and 25 grams of marijuana has been killed while under the watch of narcotics officers. This time, the dead woman is Rachel Morningstar Hoffman, a resident of Clearwater FL and a 2007 graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee. Hoffman, 23, was found dead in rural Taylor County early Friday after two men suspected in her kidnapping and robbery led investigators to her body. Murder charges are pending, according to the Tallahassee Police Department. Hoffman was last seen Wednesday night near Forestmeadows Park while attempting to assist TPD vice investigators by buying drugs and a gun from two men. Though not yet convicted on the charges of marijuana possession and possessing ecstasy with intent to sell, the Tallahassee drug cops intimidated her into doing what should instead be the most risky part of their job. Rather than expose themselves - while using their state police training and their resources of being heavily armed and protected - they sent in Hoffman unarmed to deal with drug and weapon suppliers. Neither Ms. Hoffman's attorney of record nor the states attorneys office was notified of her involvement in this dangerous, high risk undercover operation by Tallahassee Police. Further, Ms Hoffman's participation in a court-ordered drug-treatment program should have precluded her from buying drugs for police, legal and treatment professionals have stated. Our country supports drug treatment. People undergoing treatment are required to avoid all contacts with anybody who uses or sells illegal drugs. Thus we should demand that laws preclude the use of any person undergoing treatment as an informant. ONLY due to the insanity of drug Prohibition policies would such an operation take place within our communities putting civilians at risk of injury and death as they do jobs that should instead be done by real police. But unfortunately, drug Prohibition guarantees that all drug dealing will be covert - behind closed doors - carried out by mystery players and participants. This is in contrast to the sensible system in place for literally 99% of drugs - notably alcohol, tobacco and Rx pharmaceuticals - where all dealers are out in the open. Police and regulators can easily investigate the how, when, where and who of all drug dealing that is not forced on to the street by 21st century Prohibition. Florida police, elected officials and voters all need to carefully consider how much longer we will endorse such a policy that leaves 100% control of production and dealing for a short list of in-demand drugs to street dealers, gangs and international cartels. Despite the sad death of Rachel Hoffman ten days ago and despite any number of future deaths that will occur among police and civilians alike, the "War on Drugs" continues to be an abject failure for reducing either the use of illicit drugs or the aggressive, violent street sales of those same drugs. Everyone needs to ask, "How many more police and civilians need to die before we come to our senses and end drug Prohibition?" Please consider sending a Letter to the Editor directed to the Tallahassee Democrat, which is the location of this sad story, and also the newspaper read daily by Florida State legislators and Governor Charlie Christ. Please also consider sending letters to other Florida newspapers which have carried opinions about this murder. Newspapers expect that the letters they receive be unique so please insure that each letter you send is at least slightly different. Letters of 200 words or less have the best chance of being printed. Thanks for your effort and support. It's not what others do it's what YOU do. ********************************************************************** The first story from the May 10 Tallahassee Democrat may be read here: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n483/a06.html MAP has archived almost 30 news and opinion clippings related to Ms. Hoffman's murder. New clippings are added each day: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rachel+Hoffman Some of the best items to respond to are the Editorial and Opinion clippings, with the most recent being: US FL: Editorial: Rachel Hoffman Case Demands Outside Review (Tallahassee Democrat) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n493/a06.html US FL: OPED: Innocence Lost on Both Sides of the Law (Tallahassee Democrat) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n495/a01.html US FL: Editorial: Why Was Informer Put At Risk? (St Petersburg Times) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n504/a12.html US FL: PUB LTE: Blame the War on Drugs (Tampa Tribune) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n506/a04.html ********************************************************************** Additional suggestions for writing LTEs are at our Media Activism Center: http://www.mapinc.org/resource/#guides, or contact MAP's Media Activism Facilitator for tips on how to write LTEs that are printed. [email protected] ********************************************************************** PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent letter list ([email protected]) if you are subscribed, or by e-mailing a copy directly to [email protected] if you are not subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others can learn from your efforts. Subscribing to the Sent LTE list ([email protected]) will help you to review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing efforts. To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form ********************************************************************** Prepared by: The MAP Media Activism Team, www.mapinc.org/resource

National: Association of Paroling Authorities International Supports Re-enfranchisement The Association of Paroling Authorities International recently voted to approve a resolution to restore voting rights to individuals after release from prison. The resolution states: "Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Association of Paroling Authorities International supports the restoration of voting rights for offenders reentering the community and encourages the participation of paroling authorities in the passage and implementation of laws that engage former offenders in the civic discourse." The APAI is an international membership organization composed of criminal justice professionals dedicated to maintaining responsible parole practices. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information -- e-mail: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org

Yes, the rumors you have heard are true! Our beautiful prison art has a new 22 million dollar home. Announcing the opening of the National Museum of Crime and Punishment on May 23 featuring many of our most striking and gorgeous pieces. Long in the planning, and generous in the funding, a new museum opens in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2008. Located on 7th Street NW (a half block from the popular Verizon Center and one block form the famous International Spy Museum), the National Museum of Crime and Punishment is destined to become the "must" place to visit in the Nation's capital. We are proud that many of the most beautiful and unusual pieces of prison art from our Prison Art Gallery are featured at the museum. In addition, the museum's large and innovative gift shop carries many of our prison art prints. You'll want to be among the first to visit this extraordinary museum. With exhibits such as a recreation of Al Capone's plush jail cell and John Dillinger's actual getaway car, and with equipment that will allow you to get your own authentic mug shots and test your skills at outsmarting a lie detector test, your visit will be both interesting and educational. For more information, please visit CrimeMuseum.org.

National: 'What If' Disenfranchisement was No More? Erika Wood, Director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, published "What if 5.3 Million More Americans Could Vote?," an opinion editorial featured on AlterNet. Listing the collateral consequences of disenfranchisement, Wood emphasized the Jim Crow roots of barring voters and the ongoing disproportionate impact of felony disenfranchisement laws on people of color. She also described the "ripple effect" caused by disenfranchisement. "Felony disenfranchisement laws do not only impact those who lose their voting rights," Wood writes. "Entire communities lose their political capital when their citizens cannot vote. Denying the vote to one person has a ripple effect, dramatically decreasing the political power of urban and minority communities." Despite setbacks in some states, there are reform efforts in Congress, she reported. Sen. Russ Feingold and Rep. John Conyers are expected to soon introduce the Democracy Restoration Act, a bill that seeks to restore voting rights in federal elections to all Americans who have been released from prison and are living in the community. "The promise of our democracy will never be realized if 4 million Americans remain disenfranchised. It is time to end this last blanket barrier to the ballot box," Wood concluded. Tennessee: Arrest for Voting Further Disenfranchises Woman Carla Thomas Smith was arrested last month for registering to vote and casting ballots in November 2004 and November 2006, according to the Leaf Chronicle. The Tennessee resident, who was released on bond, was charged with "accessory after the fact" in 1995 - a felony conviction - which disqualified her from voting in the state. Currently, Tennessee law bans those convicted of a felony with a maximum sentence of more than a year, with the possibility of reinstatement. Those convicted of murder, some sexual offenses, treason and voting fraud permanently lose their right to vote. Further, the law disenfranchises those with felony offenses who have outstanding legal financial obligations, restitution or child support fees. Massachusetts: 'The More We Imprison, the Less We Vote' Two citizenship students at Amherst College - one on the 'inside,' the other on the 'outside,' rally for disenfranchisement reform in a co-authored opinion editorial published in the Boston Globe. They write: "We all write the same papers, read the same material by John Locke and Alexis de Tocqueville, and are all equally engaged in debating and discussing everything from the role of the good citizen to America's role in the world. There is no reason to think inmates are uniquely unqualified to wield a vote, and no reason to think they can't." The class, which meets at the Hampshire County Correctional Facility, combines college students with inmates at the prison. In regard to the more than 25,000 inmates in Massachusetts prisons and jails, the students state that in an effort to better integrate formerly incarcerated individuals in society, voting rights are a key component. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information -- e-mail: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org