Pubdate: Fri, 29 Mar 2002
Source: Parkersburg News, The (WV)
Copyright: 2002, The Parkersburg News
Contact:  http://www.newsandsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1648

SUPREME COURT WRONG TO UPHOLD LAW THAT WOULD EVICT DUPED FAMILIES OF DRUG USER

Supreme Court justices erred in upholding a law that allows government 
agencies to evict entire families from public housing facilities, merely 
because one member is caught using illegal drugs. Constitutional guarantees 
of due process - as well as simple ethical concerns - argue against such 
evictions.

Justices, ruling in a California case, said this week that authorities can 
proceed with evictions without allowing members of a family to demonstrate 
they were not aware of drug use by one member. Though we agree 
whole-heartedly with "get tough" provisions concerning drug use in public 
housing, we do not believe innocent relatives of users should be penalized 
- - providing they can make a very persuasive case for themselves.

Getting tough on crime should mean dealing severely with offenders.

It should not mean penalizing the innocent simply because they were duped 
by family members.
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MAP posted-by: Beth