Pubdate: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2003 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Authors: Dina Asebedo Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0272.html HARSH JUSTICE PUTS LIVES IN THE BALANCE (2 of 3) To the Editor: Re your Aug. 12 editorial about mandatory minimums: My family is a victim of the war on drugs. My husband was a first-time offender convicted only on the word of someone looking to shorten his own sentence. The harsh mandatory minimum guidelines imposed a sentence of 78 months, one that the judge himself agreed was cruel and unnecessary. DINA ASEBEDO San Antonio, Aug. 13, 2003 - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart