In a message dated 3/10/2004 1:14:00 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: >>And that is where the true genius of H.F. 1829 comes in. Nobody on this list has yet mentioned its most important provision, which is the creation of a legal classification for "non-violent drug offenders." This provision would require that all people who are brought up solely on drug charges be referred for a drug treatment screening. If they are recommended for treatment, then they may be diverted into an 18 month program instead of being sent to prison. A prison sentence may still be imposed if they violate the conditions of their treatment program, and this designation does not apply if the drug charges occur in connection with a weapons violation, use of force, or if the person has a prior conviction for a violent offense.<<<
And that would be my cue then. There's a few pieces of the puzzle that you and Jordan K. are missing in regards to this. Having talked with Keith a number of times regarding this, I know about more about his logic, which is trying to get at the person who inadvertently gets caught up in using drugs and then ends up with a maximum sentence. It's designed to get at the user and not the dealer and that's where part of the problem is. The other part is the classification of "non-violent offender". The push for the classification is to have Meth (which is the major concern in the rural communities) be classified as "violent" and Marijuana (which is the major concern in the urban communities) classified as "non-violent". In doing this, you effectively give the rural communities the tools to deal with their drug problems and reduce the ability of the urban communities. Jordan was right about the "war on drugs" having a racial component, but not in the way that he meant....we're effectively taking away the tools that deal with the impacted communities. And yes, there's savings to be had with this bill, but it will not suddenly be dumped into treatment programs as proponents seem to think, but rather would work to fix other deficits. More importantly, it's focused on the drug user. I am all for better treatment options for them, but that's where the problem is for the prisons, not for the neighborhoods. The majority of people in jail on drug offenses for the amounts that this bill will affect are users who get busted, not dealers. And that's where the real issue is. On the streets of Jordan (and I'm sure in other impact neighborhoods), the dealers are not from the neighborhood, they come in from other parts to the city and state. They stand on the corner and flag down the buyers who are also from outside the city. They direct the buyer around the corner to another member who takes the money and either has the drugs or directs them to another person who has them. Their supply is refilled by young kids on bikes. Those dispense drugs carry just enough so that if caught it's a 5th degree offense, the kids are minors and face juvenile offenses if caught. The system is organized and in place. How does sending them to drug treatment solve this problem? They are not concerned about penalties, because they know what to carry. Raise the amount and they carry more. Classify them as non-violent and then explain about the 20-month old that gets shot in the fallout of the "New Deal" that failed to take these dealers out. The concerns of at least the Jordan neighborhood and probably others is that these changes aren't designed to get at the dealers, much less the ones that come in from the suburbs, along with their buyers. Decriminalization and regulation or zoning would be two ways to more effectively deal with this, but this bill doesn't help any of the impacted communities. Put something in about dealers coming in from other neighborhoods or cities, focus the treatment aspects on the users and not leave loopholes for the dealers, and then you'll begin to get at the real problems for the neighborhoods. Jonathan Palmer working in Jordan REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
