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| Drug Sentencing Reform Just a Start, Some Insist |
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Posted by FoM on April 03, 2002 at 09:42:45 PT By Noel S. Brady, Journal Reporter Source: Eastside Journal 
A new state law to reduce prison terms for small-time drug dealers owes its passage largely to veteran Prosecutor Norm Maleng of King County. An ardent supporter of the bill, Maleng worked with its chief sponsor, Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Shoreline, to craft a politically palatable first step toward drug sentencing reform. But a growing coalition of lawmakers, attorneys, medical professionals and social activists would have preferred to see drug-policy reform move a giant step further. They believe the war on drugs has failed and that the only way to solve the drug problem is to divert money away from prosecution and imprisonment of all nonviolent drug offenders and use the funds to treat them. ``The bill that was passed was an important first step in the right direction,'' said Roger Goodman, director of the King County Bar Association's drug police reform project. ``But there's much more to be done. Unfortunately, the war on drugs is not over, and it will never be won. ``It (the new legislation) is probably all that could be expected this year.'' Locke signed a twice-revised version of House Bill 2338 on Monday, saying it was designed to protect communities from violence and launch a smarter approach to crime and punishment when it comes to narcotics. ``It changes the way we sentence low-level drug offenders, reducing the prison time for first-time heroin and cocaine offenders and investing the savings into expanded treatment,'' Locke said. ``This will strengthen drug court programs across the state, helping addicts change their lives and become productive citizens.'' The new law reduces prison terms for low-level drug dealers by about six months for first-time offenses, which previously came with two-year prison terms. The measure also takes the money saved through reducing inmate housing costs and sends it straight to drug treatment and prevention programs. Maleng said the new law could mean an additional $8.2 million a year dedicated to helping offenders put drugs behind them. ``Arrest, prosecution and imprisonment were never supposed to be the entire strategy to combat drugs,'' he said. ``Drug abuse is a complex issue that cannot be successfully battled without a comprehensive strategy that incorporates treatment as an equal partner with law enforcement.'' That's where Maleng and the drug-policy reform coalition differ. The organizations that joined the Washington state and King County bar associations in making reform recommendations last December say nonviolent drug offenders should not be prosecuted or imprisoned at all. A more effective approach for dealing with narcotics trafficking and drug addiction, they say, is to target the root causes, such as poverty, mental illness, lack of education and other social ills. The legal system isn't set up to do that. Under the new law, ``people with drug problems will still be firmly under control of the judicial system,'' Goodman said. ``As for those who don't get in trouble with the law, there's still an enormous lack of resources.'' Still, Goodman said the new law leaves him optimistic that the state is moving toward full-scale reform. ``We were pleasantly surprised by half the Republican caucus voting in support of this bill,'' he said. Andy Ko, who directs drug policy reform efforts by the American Civil Liberties Union state organization, agreed with Goodman that the outlook is positive. The next step, he said, will be for the state to show its commitment by seeing that money saved in corrections is used for drug treatment. The state must attack the underlying problems of drug abuse, he said. ``The public is way ahead of the legislators on this issue,'' Ko said. ``But there's an awful lot of work left to be done.'' Complete Title: Drug Sentencing Reform Just a Start, Some Insist: War on Drugs a Failure, They Say, and Treatment Should Replace Jail Time Newshawk: Rainbow Related Articles: Prosecutor Says Drug Offenders Need Treatment Doctors, Lawyers, Pharmacists Push Drug Reform Drug War Failed, New Report Says Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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