|
|
| Change Needed in War on Drugs |
|
Posted by FoM on July 11, 2001 at 18:11:50 PT By Thomas E. Noel Source: Baltimore Sun 
Nearly a decade ago, then-Circuit Judge Kenneth Lavon Johnson questioned why the focus of the war on drugs in Baltimore City was not on the upper echelon of the drug trafficking business, the importer-wholesaler. Since then, only one year has passed in which the murder rate in Baltimore City did not exceed 300. Most of these killings are believed to be related to the illegal drug industry. Our criminal justice systems are flooded with arrests of lower-level street dealers and addicts. As a result, the correctional facilities struggle to house the ever-increasing numbers of these small-time drug defendants. This long-standing strategy has begun to come under fire. Neighborhoods are in decline and quality-of-life issues abound. People are afraid to leave their homes or let children go out to play. Random violence and the proliferation of shootings are almost daily headlines. So it is no surprise that great numbers of our citizens continue to leave the city. Myriad businesses have been reluctant to come to Baltimore because of the issues the drug problems have generated as well as the perceptions that follow from them. Another concern that cannot be overlooked is the racial impact of our drug problem. Analyzing U.S. Justice Department figures and Human Rights Watch documents, the gross disparity between the imprisonment of blacks and whites for drug offenses is very evident. Blacks, who make up 12 percent of the population, account for 62 percent of incarcerated drug offenders. The myth that blacks use drugs more frequently is easily dispelled. A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has found black and white rates of drug use to be quite similar, with far more white than black drug use overall. These shocking arrest rates have a devastating effect on the community. Many black men are unemployable because of long arrest and conviction records. Large segments of the community are disenfranchised, eliminating many political concerns. Not only has the drug epidemic affected the black community, it has adversely affected the city. As a Circuit Court judge, I have presided over Drug Court for several terms during the last few years. I have seen much time, effort and money devoted to focusing on low-level street activity. Very little, if anything, has changed in the last nine years. Perhaps Judge Johnson was correct when he labeled the war on drugs as "mostly eyewash." At a neighborhood forum at which I appeared a while ago with elected officials, one official acknowledged that the lack of resources prevented expanding law enforcement efforts to truly launch a war on drugs. Priorities must be rearranged if we intend to broaden our approach. The cost of incarceration is tremendous when compared to treatment and prevention. Unless the law enforcement community has the resources it needs, we will have to settle for business as usual; that is not satisfactory. After 20 years with simply more of the same, I think change is warranted. We cannot forgo reclaiming neighborhoods. Our communities cannot be left to fend for themselves against this heinous drug subculture. All of our citizens deserve the same assurances in their daily lives as anyone in any of the outlying suburbs or counties. However, we must take serious measures to broaden the scope of our approach. Until the economics of illegal drugs is understood and becomes aggressively pursued by law enforcement, we will continue to see limited progress, if any. All branches of government, the clergy, law enforcement and those in the world of academia need to begin a meaningful dialogue on alternatives to past efforts. A new strategy is desperately needed to effect positive and immediate change if we intend to rescue Baltimore City from its rapid demise. Thomas E. Noel is a judge in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Newshawk: Jack D. CannabisNews Justice Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #12 posted by CongressmanSuet on July 13, 2001 at 21:00:32 PT |
Frances, I like seeing you post. I may not agree with what you say, but I believe you should[as a concerned person] be able to respond to what you consider to be a great threat. I understand this, not everybody stands on the same ground sometimes. My question to you. Have you not read any of the links that have been provided by the posters here?Constant refutation of the prohibitionist ideal, medical studies, foreign goverments ready to legalize...does this make you start to panic? It shouldnt.It should make you think. We are working silently to change the way your GUVIMENT[thanks Swampie] thinks and works. The day will come when I will ask you for a light for my joint during the 4th of July holiday... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by dddd on July 12, 2001 at 21:07:48 PT |
| Gentle Frances,,,,I am curious,,how would you describe this quest of yours against Marijuana,,and how did you get involved in your crusade? Respectfully submitted.......dddd [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #10 posted by lookinside on July 12, 2001 at 20:46:10 PT:
|
| who are you quoting? george soros is a great man...are you jealous frances??? it takes courage to back an unpopular cause...he is a man of do you have any convictions frances? you make snide, if you are attempting to make a case for the drug war, why how about moving to inner city baltimore, and enlighten why not go to the san francisco bay area and visit the so far, frances, in the battle of wits, you come unarmed... [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #9 posted by frances on July 12, 2001 at 17:06:19 PT:
|
| BALTIMORE? - The drug use capitol giving advice on how to handle the war on drugs? MY, MY, MY - will wonders never cease? There are more emergency room drug admits from Baltimore than any city in America. They have a WONDERFUL George Soros funded HARM REDUCTION program. It's working as planned, no doubt. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by Jay on July 12, 2001 at 08:32:53 PT |
| I live in Brooklyn NY, and have some friends who are drug dealers, and white. There have been many times when they have been found with a few bags on them (under 10)and the cops did nothing. other times they just cut up the bags and left. I have have a friend who is very dark skinned (I'm not sure what he is), and he has spent nights in jail for a roach! What type of system is this? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by aocp on July 12, 2001 at 06:53:30 PT |
| You guys said it. This guy doesn't have a clue, as evidenced thusly: Until the economics of illegal drugs is understood Dissection time, me boyo. The economix of illegal As for "limited progress," who the hell does this guy Time for the adults to talk now, judge noel. Why don't [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by The Offspring on July 12, 2001 at 06:49:51 PT |
| Blacks, who make up 12 percent of the population, account for 62 percent of incarcerated drug offenders. Doesn't this look a little suspicious. The War on Drugs started upon racism and is still thriving upon racism. I am suprised the Black community is not apalled by this. This is not right. I'm from Canada and I'm White. Canada is close to Drug Reform. It looks like the good old USA will be last when it comes to this. I thought todays society was suppose to be tolerent. I bet more Hispanics than Whites are put in prison on Drug Offences. I want people to think about it. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #5 posted by Digit on July 11, 2001 at 21:06:10 PT:
|
| America digs its self into a hole. The authorities' solution: Dig faster and harder. Thomas E. Noel (one of them) has even noted this, although still does not seem to realise it himself. Keep digging America! The States need a revolution, drug law reform and to realise the error in thier ways. For the first time I am happy to say that I am in the UK, alot closser to drug law reform than most realise... and in a big way. Somewhat a first, the UK (although not publically admitted by the government) is only a few years away from LEGALISING cannabis. [yes legalisation, not decriminalisation] Good luck across the pond. :) Be Free, Be Happy, Be Stonned, Don't Worry [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by mr.greengenes on July 11, 2001 at 20:31:57 PT |
| in my neck of the woods within the past couple of weeks. http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2001/07/11/local.20010711-sbt-FULL-D1-Prosecutor__Man.sto http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2001/07/04/local.20010704-sbt-MARS-A1-Informant.sto [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by jAHn on July 11, 2001 at 20:17:03 PT |
| ...1) A 13 yr. old girl and her mother were killed while Parasailing. The blame is to be put on the harness and some other Faulty "part" of this particular human-made creation. 2) In Oklahoma, a Chemical Plant seeped gas into "certain chambers" where Employees((serfs)) were Working. 100 employees were taken to the hospital. And Pot STILL is being called a "Controlled Dangerous Substance"....ok........... HEY! I can write while I'm stoned! ISn't this SUR PRISING? I found the 1) and 2) in the [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 11, 2001 at 19:26:04 PT |
| MikeEEEEE I call it lip service. There is no heart in what he says. If his heart was in what he was saying he couldn't stop where he does but would have to go further into thinking about the drug war and see that we must move rapidly away from incarcaration. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 11, 2001 at 19:17:16 PT |
| Our communities cannot be left to fend for themselves against this heinous drug subculture. Hint of prejudice; yes, an anti speaks. All branches of government, the clergy, law enforcement and those in the world of academia need to begin a meaningful dialogue on alternatives to past efforts. A new strategy is desperately needed to effect positive and immediate change if we intend to rescue Baltimore City from its rapid demise. They had over 30 years of drug war prohibition, what alternatives to past efforts, ha, they failed, more failure would be foolish. Rapid demise; any war of this type cause demise, the more war the more demise. Little close minded brains don't see beyond their programming. [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |