Pubdate: Tue, 13 Mar 2001
Source: Times Argus (VT)
Copyright: 2001 Times Argus
Address: P.O. Box 707, Barre VT 05641
Fax: (802) 479-4032
Feedback: http://timesargus.nybor.com/Opinion/Letters/
Website: http://www.timesargus.com/
Author: Mary Sullivan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN WOES FED BY COURTS

Hello Vermonters, are you so sure we have a problem in this state with the 
use and distribution of heroin? Or maybe we have a political problem?

Maybe we need to get people in our courts to do the jobs they should be 
doing. Isn't heroin been blamed for the increase in crimes in our state? 
Well, I don't blame the junkies and the pushers any more they know the job 
of the judge and the prosecutors better than they do.

Prosecutors and judges need to be stricter with enforcing the laws. what 
point are you making when you slap the wrists of these peddlers and allow 
them back out on the streets? Heroin is a very highly addictive drug, crime 
rate is up and we the public are told the two go hand-in-hand. So before 
the police even have a chance to finish the paperwork on the arrest, the 
prosecutors and judges are sending these criminals back out to us! We 
appreciate it, keep up the good work guys!

As a Vermonter I am so comforted by your hard work. I wonder why the police 
even bother to arrest these junkies you might be better off to seize their 
drug and flush it, you may have better results! In closing I would like to 
say a 12- month suspended sentence for 90 bags of heroin is an outrage! So 
keep up the good work, I am so very proud to be a Vermonter, and I will be 
keeping my eyes pealed for more of your wrist slapping! I will make it a 
point to congratulate you every time you put us (the public) at risk! Once 
again keep up the good work.

Mary Sullivan, Rutland
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager