POLL: Drug cases should be dealt with by?

[michelio]

Originally Posted by mom in fremont

YOU Are right!!!!!

I totally agree with u on this. I know when a person has abused drugs and they like the way it feels well most everyone like sex after they try it right. Well try telling a person they can't have sex for the rest of their lives. Uh hello! Its the same when using drugs. No one can tell me they didn't give themselves a hand job or two and not tell anyone.

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[bigd'sgirl]

i agree that the sentences for non-violent drug charges are way too harsh. my husband is serving 4 yrs for 4gms of cocaine, 1st drug offense, had turned life around, was clean and had started his own autobody business several months before he was actually charged. our county doesn't have drug courts like some of the neighboring counties or he would be home serving supervised probation, going thru drug rehab and other programs instead of being locked in a cell 19 of 24 hrs with nothing to do but stare at 3 walls and go crazy

[Andreah]

I honestly believe that a drug addict needs rehab, not prison. Especially first time offenders. My boyfriend is 22 an prior to prison he had a horrible addiction to Meth. He was accompanied by his cousin in making Meth. They are both first time offenders an caught a 6 year an 9 month sentence..they did a bad thing an deserve to be corrected, but 6 years an 9 months is ridiculous.. they need help an I feel like in prison they are not gonna get it.. would you honestly put a man dying from cancer in prison just because he has cancer. No absolutely not. Just like cancer drug addiction is a sickness that needs treatment .. I've been through addiction myself and rehab is the reason im 3 years sober.. had someone put me in prison it would have made me angry an bitter and I would still be using. These men an women need our help and something needs to be done to keep them from re-offending..

[DaveMoff]

Prison should be reserved for violent offenders only, and for those who cannot or will not attempt to improve themselves or make restitution to their victims (most thieves and embezzlers, to my mind, ought to be put to work to repay what they have stolen). I have no sympathy for anyone who sells drugs to kids (even though taking him off the streets only leads to someone else stepping into the vacancy), and do not believe they should receive leniency. However, it is ridiculous to hand out a multi-year sentence to someone merely because they had some substance in a pocket or were indulging in said substance at home.

In particular, it is hypocritical to the extreme to prosecute possessors or users of marijuana while the government has no objection to alcohol and tobacco, receiving lucrative tax revenues from both. To my knowledge, no one has ever died directly from the use of marijuana (excepting those who attempt to drive while stoned or the like). The mere use of alcohol and tobacco kills hundreds of thousands of Americans every year.

It seems odd, also, to imprison meth users when millions of Americans are on various prescribed amphetamine derivatives for ADHD and other conditions (in some cases, WEIGHT LOSS!). There are abundant treatment resources available for addicts which will yield far better results than planting FELON on someone's forehead, effectively placing him on the fringes of society for life.

[Tyler's Momma]

I have one better than that that makes me so, so mad. My son at 18 yrs old sold on two separate occassions within a week of each other to a "so called friend" a few pills. One was 3 pills for $20 and other was 7 pills for $50. It was adderall and Xanax. I don't remember which was which though. The "friend" was a sheriff dept's CI and was wired for video. He initially received TWO counts of sale of controlled substance and received TWO 20 yr felony convictions, 18 yrs suspended and serve 2 yrs in a trusty program at the county jail. He was convicted and went into the program in July 2011. He did so well in the program that within five months he moved to the highest position in the trust program. Well, the officers involved in the arrests didn't like the fact that my son had changed and was doing great. They made up all kinds of lies about him as well as his father and I which caused him to get kicked out of the program. On May 21, 2012 he was resentenced to TWO 20 yr sentences, 10 yrs suspended and 10 years to serve (will be served at same time, concurrently I think) because professionals held a personal grudge against him and could not stand to see him improve himself. My son was a first time offender. How is this right? How is it right for police/officers/etc. to use kids to use other kids to get their arrests rates up and throw these kids in jail/prison BUT not help any of them? Unless you are parents that have lots of money and can buy your kids out of it this is what is happening.

Originally Posted by Andreah

I honestly believe that a drug addict needs rehab, not prison. Especially first time offenders. My boyfriend is 22 an prior to prison he had a horrible addiction to Meth. He was accompanied by his cousin in making Meth. They are both first time offenders an caught a 6 year an 9 month sentence..they did a bad thing an deserve to be corrected, but 6 years an 9 months is ridiculous.. they need help an I feel like in prison they are not gonna get it.. would you honestly put a man dying from cancer in prison just because he has cancer. No absolutely not. Just like cancer drug addiction is a sickness that needs treatment .. I've been through addiction myself and rehab is the reason im 3 years sober.. had someone put me in prison it would have made me angry an bitter and I would still be using. These men an women need our help and something needs to be done to keep them from re-offending..

[DaveMoff]

How does this sort of thing benefit society in any way? On top of everything else, your son apparently has medical problems and almost undoubtedly will not receive treatment or medication for in prison.

How much does it cost to keep someone in prison for 10 years these days? What is the cost to society for the ten years that person is not gainfully employed, self-sufficient, and paying taxes? Here is one less worker, one less consumer, one less contributor to his community. What is that worth?

I won't discuss time with family/friends/significant other because that is beyond price. So is the basic principle of Justice, which in a free society should be capitalized, but I begin to wonder about America more and more each day.

If you have a petition/Facebook page/what have you for your son, please let me know by PM if you prefer. I am swamped with various activities at present, but will do my best to make time if I can be of help in any way. If you can provide me with the state/facility/jurisdiction (state/federal) he is in, I may have some suggestions. No need for names at this point since you don't know me--I cannot reasonably expect your trust unless and until I have earned it.

[I°20west]

Originally Posted by joeslilbaby

I totally agree, It is just that, say a young dumb kid gets caught dealing and they throw this kid in a place with murders, rapists, it doesn't seem right... u know?

What's happening there and here is that state governments are buying into prison privatizations! Corrections Cooperation of America (CCA) is a big prison buisiness! The buy prisons in certain states,and the governor of that state enters a contract with them that promises to keep their prisons at least 90% full for 20 years!!!! IKR!! And their target is non~violent offenders! Since the state owned prisons get the violent offenders! And by keeping the quotas met...their are kickbacks to your local D.A.s,Judges,& sheriff dpt.!

[KeithsGrl]

hmmm... depends on the circumstances. i was arrested 23 years ago with less than a 1/4 gram of cocaine. i was not an addict. i did it sporadically when i went to a club. that would have been ridiculous to send me to prison. i did have to go to an outpatient rehab. that was ridiculous too since i rarely did drugs. i was also had to go to narcotics anonymous. i was nothing like the people there. they were addicts. i never was... i am drug free today. :-)

[Msnat]

Originally Posted by bigd'sgirl

i agree that the sentences for non-violent drug charges are way too harsh. my husband is serving 4 yrs for 4gms of cocaine, 1st drug offense, had turned life around, was clean and had started his own autobody business several months before he was actually charged. our county doesn't have drug courts like some of the neighboring counties or he would be home serving supervised probation, going thru drug rehab and other programs instead of being locked in a cell 19 of 24 hrs with nothing to do but stare at 3 walls and go crazy

I totally agree. I think they are way to harsh on people with non-violent drug charges...especially 1st drug offense!! They dont even give them a second chance to better themselves.. Rather give them 7 years..without providing at least outside services with supervision.. I just feel there is a better alternative, then throwing them in the slammer for soo long :-(

[SusanWayward]

Exactly and that raises the question that isn't part of this poll: Should the possession, use and small scale "distribution" of drugs even be a crime?

How about saving court ordered rehab for people who are committing other crimes that can be linked back to their drug addiction, because they're kinda proving they can't handle drug use responsbily?

And leave people who are functional/recreational users alone?

Drug user does not equal drug addict.

Originally Posted by KeithsGrl

hmmm... depends on the circumstances. i was arrested 23 years ago with less than a 1/4 gram of cocaine. i was not an addict. i did it sporadically when i went to a club. that would have been ridiculous to send me to prison. i did have to go to an outpatient rehab. that was ridiculous too since i rarely did drugs. i was also had to go to narcotics anonymous. i was nothing like the people there. they were addicts. i never was... i am drug free today. :-)

[louis'girl]

Originally Posted by AngelFaceAlbion

Like my fiance says..being in jail/prison isn't going to help..it's just going to make it worse and want that person to rebel worse once they get out. In post 'down state' prisons in PA (im not sure about other states) you can get more drugs than you could on the streets. I mean how the heck is that suppose to help? its not! My fiance tried to get into NA and the DOC won't let him because he's 'not sentenced yet', is what they tell him. They're are denying him self help. How are people spose to help themselves,when they are denied it..grr..i REALLY hate the government..

~*Angel*~

I totally agree with you...my fiance said the same thingabout how bad the drugs are in prison and on top. of that guards help them bring it in. if everyone is saying rehab don't work its because they don't want it to or because the rehabs should be better. i went to a rehab before(outpatient) it was a joke too, but if the states were to put in place better rehab facilities instead of prison then i believe society would be much better of! Education is what is needed!

[thismom2]

Well what sense does it make to throw away the keys to drug addicts and then, allow murders to go free. Treatment and mental health is lacking in this country and the answer has been jail. Makes no sense.