Pubdate: Wed, 21 Aug 2002
Source: Wisconsin State Journal (WI)
Copyright: 2002 Madison Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/506
Author: Beth Williams, Wisconsin State Journal

EXPERTS QUESTION JAIL FOR DRUG USERS

Law Enforcement Officials, However, Said Sometimes Arrests Are A Necessary Tool

Imprisoning drug users won't solve all the problems caused by illegal 
drugs, experts said Tuesday at a drug policy forum held by Progressive Dane.

Law enforcement officers in the audience agreed but said arresting people 
for drug possession is sometimes necessary.

"Just because enforcement alone is not the answer, I don't believe the 
solution is to not have enforcement," said Lt. Brian Ackeret, head of the 
Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force.

After 18 months of study, Progressive Dane, a liberal political party with 
members on the Madison City Council and Dane County Board-- says police 
should not arrest people for possessing marijuana on private property, let 
medical marijuana users grow some plants, not prosecute those who call 911 
for an overdose unless there's foul play and train police on the effects of 
a drug conviction.

More than 75 people came to the Madison Municipal Building to hear those 
and the party's other recommendations discussed Tuesday at the forum.

Speakers said spending more money on finding drug abusers and dealers and 
imprisoning them hasn't decreased drug use.

"I think the drug war can be summed up in these two figures," said 
psychologist Richard Althouse, chairman of practice standards of the 
American Association for Correctional Psychology. "Currently, the 
government spends $17 billion on the drug war and consumers spend $78 
billion on those drugs the government doesn't want us to have."

After the forum, Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard said police 
in Dane County should ticket people who only possess a small amount of 
marijuana.

"Effectively, we have decriminalization already," he said.

Madison Police Assistant Chief Noble Wray said marijuana enforcement is a 
low priority for the department.

Blanchard said he hopes forum participants will support the county's drug 
prevention and treatment efforts such as the drug court, where adults 
without a history of violence can get minor drug charges dismissed if they 
successfully complete a treatment or education program.

"Addiction itself is not a crime, and we should be able to use a 
combination of criminal law and social work techniques to deal with these 
people," Blanchard said.
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