Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jan 2002
Source: Eastside Journal (WA)
Copyright: 2000 Horvitz Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.eastsidejournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/985
Author: Noel S. Brady
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

PROSECUTOR SAYS DRUG OFFENDERS NEED TREATMENT, NOT MORE JAIL TIME

King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng has joined a growing number of legal and 
medical professionals, legislators and civil rights activists in declaring 
the war on drugs a failure. He says it should be replaced with a new 
emphasis on treatment instead of incarceration.

In a written statement, Maleng yesterday announced his intention to ask the 
state Legislature next week to consider at least two bills aimed at 
lowering prison sentences for some drug offenses, and redirecting the money 
saved on housing drug offenders to drug treatment programs.

On Monday, Maleng plans to speak in Olympia before the House Criminal 
Justice and Corrections Committee, and then on Thursday before the Senate 
Judiciary Committee in support of House Bill 2338 and Senate Bill 6361.

Much like measures that failed in the Legislature last year, the bills aim 
at reducing prison sentences for drug offenders and using the money saved 
to develop a new treatment-based approach to the problem.

The bills call for a reduction in the seriousness of drug offenses and an 
end to so-called "triple scoring," which nearly doubles a defendant's 
prison term for each prior drug offense. The seriousness reduction would 
mean felony narcotics prison sentences would be reduced from a base range 
of 21-27 months to 15-20 months.

The idea was boosted last month when the King County Bar Association 
released a drug study report by a task force of attorneys, health care and 
pharmacy professionals from King County and across the state.

All agreed that putting drug offenders behind bars costs more money and is 
less effective than devoting funds and resources to innovative treatment 
programs. The report included a list of recommendations for easing criminal 
penalties and ensuring that the money saved will help people get off drugs.

According to the report, more than 20 percent of some 15,000 people in 
Washington's state prisons currently are serving time for drug crimes. The 
state pays about $20,000 per year to house a single adult prisoner. 
Juveniles cost more than twice that amount.

At a King County Bar Association panel discussion last month, Maleng said 
he supports the basic notion that more money and effort should be diverted 
to treatment and away from incarceration for some non-violent drug offenders.

"I don't agree with all the conclusions that the King County Bar 
Association made in its report, but the biggest decision they made was to 
move the debate ahead," Maleng said. "We're dealing with something that 
really hurts a lot of people."

Police, however, aren't as eager to free people convicted of drug crimes. 
Bellevue police Chief Jim Montgomery yesterday said he hopes the effort to 
redirect the approach to fighting drugs doesn't go too far.

"Using, possessing or manufacturing illegal drugs is a crime," Montgomery 
said. "There should be a penalty attached to any crime committed by any 
individual. While rehabilitation has its merits, it should not be the only 
repercussion for those who commit this crime."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager