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| Anti-Drug Chief Stirs Debate |
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Posted by FoM on September 10, 2001 at 21:29:44 PT Cheryl W. Thompson, Washington Post Staff Writer Source: Washington Post 
The nomination of John P. Walters to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, has rekindled an intense debate over the future of the nation's drug policy.Dozens of organizations -- from the American Civil Liberties Union to the African-American Republican Leadership Council -- are watching Walters's confirmation process for signs of how he will craft drug policy and whether he will address some of the failings of the drug war. "We are agnostic on his confirmation," said J. Bradley Jansen, deputy director of the Free Congress Foundation's Center for Technology Policy, a conservative think tank. "But what we are saying is that if we are going to conduct a drug war . . . we need to be more respectful of privacy and civil liberties." Ronald E. Hampton, executive director of the National Black Police Association, said he hopes to see more money spent on drug treatment, particularly in poor and minority communities. "This heavy-handed law enforcement approach hasn't worked," Hampton said. "We need to invest more in treatment and treatment on demand." Walters was nominated in May by President Bush to take over the office formerly headed by retired Army Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, who resigned in January when Bush took office. Edward H. Jurith, general counsel under McCaffrey, is the acting director. Walters is no stranger to the drug policy office. He was its deputy director under Bush's father, has written extensively about drug policy and has developed anti-drug programs. He is currently president of the Philanthropy Roundtable, a national association of charitable organizations. In recent years, a growing number of states has begun shifting the emphasis of drug policies for nonviolent offenders away from harsh sentences and toward more treatment. Many states have established drug courts, which offer some offenders treatment under the threat of incarceration if they commit repeat offenses. Bush has promised increased drug treatment after a review of the best ways to provide it is completed. Liberal organizations have criticized Walters for being too oriented toward enforcement at the expense of treatment and education. "I'd like to see a lot more treatment," said Eric E. Sterling, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, a liberal, Washington-based think tank that focuses on drug policy and policing. "I think a drug addict ought to be able to get drug treatment as easily as you can hail a taxi or order a pizza. It's an extremely efficient way to spend anti-drug dollars." Sterling, former counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, said that under the Bush administration, drug policy could likely include redoubling criminal justice and interdiction efforts by enlarging the Drug Enforcement Administration, increasing the Coast Guard's capacity and developing new surveillance technologies. "It's not a good thing because it's the most expensive and least effective way of affecting the drug marketplace in the United States," Sterling said. "I think that the biggest impact in this whole market would be to dramatically increase the availability of drug treatment." Richard M. Romley, an Arizona attorney and a finalist for national drug policy director, said he believes the office needs to be reorganized if the Bush administration wants to begin fighting drugs successfully. The White House office should be expanded to include five regions because "not all parts of the country have to deal with the issues that states bordering Mexico must," Romley said. In his job interview with the White House, Romley said he stressed prevention and treatment and a continued development of demand reduction programs, such as drug courts. "I think there needs to be a fundamental shift," Romley said. "We have to change our culture." Hampton, a former D.C. police officer, said he's not optimistic that the Bush administration's drug policy will address treatment. "Bush comes from a tough-on-crime, lock-'em-up and throw-away-the-key mentality," Hampton said. "Until we deal with the issues of why people take drugs . . . then we haven't dealt with the problem." But Jansen predicted that a successful policy could be developed if Walters "looks to the Republican leadership." "There are people who are knowledgeable and concerned . . . and can offer constructive advice," Jansen said. Note: Treatment Advocates Fear Bush Nominee Backs Stricter Enforcement. Related Articles & Web Site: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice LP Joins Coalition To Raise Questions Privacy, Liberty Emerge in Drug Czar Nomination Bush Nominee Faces Questions Coalition Criticizes Drug Czar Nominee Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on September 11, 2001 at 01:17:44 PT |
| Hampton said. "Until we deal with the issues of why people take drugs . . . then we haven't dealt with the problem." I do not take aspirin. Be my guest. I rather do the herb. The herb is not the problem.. E.Johnson, I would like to take the time to ask you to turn your nick into red. http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/register.shtml ff [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by E. Johnson on September 10, 2001 at 23:08:24 PT |
| The nomination of John P. Walters to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, has rekindled an intense debate over the future of the nation's drug policy. A debate the Washington Post until recently was trying very hard to keep from being kindled in their pages. [ Post Comment ] |
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