Pubdate: Mon, 19 Jan 2004
Source: Greenwood Commonwealth (MS)
Copyright: 2004 Greenwood Commonwealth
Contact:  http://www.gwcommonwealth.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1541
Author: Robert Sharpe

PROFITS DRIVE PUSH TOWARD IMPRISONMENT

"Zero Tolerance" Drug Policy Is Not Cost-Efficient.

Editor, Commonwealth:

Tim Kalich's Jan. 11th editorial ("Who profits from imprisonment?") was 
right on target.

For decades, entrenched interests riding the drug war gravy train have 
dominated the drug policy debate. As a result, state budgets favor 
incarceration over education.

Prison guard unions and for-profit prisons fund the campaigns of 
politicians willing to support mandatory minimum sentencing and 
zero-tolerance drug laws. This is the business approach to drug policy. The 
more citizens behind bars, the more money the prison-industrial complex makes.

It's worth noting that tobacco use has declined considerably in recent 
years. Public education efforts are paying off. Apparently, mandatory 
minimum sentences, civil asset forfeiture, random drug testing and racial 
profiling are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of discouraging 
unhealthy choices.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman