Pubdate: Wed, 04 Apr 2001
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2001 The Des Moines Register.
Contact:  http://www.dmregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123
Author: Sheila Sadler
Note: Headline supplied by MAP.

WAR ON TAXPAYERS

The war against drugs is against citizens and taxpayers, not drugs. The 
drugs are not going away, but hundreds of citizens and taxpayers are going 
away for long periods of time behind bars.

A majority of elected officials, the correctional system, and much of 
society share an attitude of locking up drug abusers and throwing away the 
key. Building new prisons will eliminate the drug problem.

They should read a recent study by Columbia University on the success of 
drug courts and drug-treatment alternatives to prison programs that have 
been going on since the 1980s. The study's contents clearly conclude that 
tax money spent on treatment of drug abuse can substantially reduce drug 
use and crime and is considerably less expensive to the taxpayer than 
building new prisons to house those addicted to drugs who have not 
committed a violent crime.

There is a lack of interest and lack of funding in Iowa for the treatment 
of those ill with an addiction. There is a serious lack of communication 
between the judicial system and the treatment centers.

Treatment and rehabilitation can help addicts regain control of their 
lives, keep them working and paying child support. This will help to 
eliminate drug usage and reduce crime while saving the taxpayers money. 
Incarceration does none of this.

Citizens and taxpayers need to start fighting the war against us. Demand 
that our tax dollars be spent on saving, instead of ruining, lives.

- -Sheila Sadler, Grinnell
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens