Pubdate: Mon, 22 Nov 2004 Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS) Copyright: 2004 The Clarion-Ledger Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805 Author: Donna S. Frizell NO PLEA BARGAINS FOR DRUG DEALERS My concern today is about the excessive number of plea bargains with repeated drug offenders. Today, drug dealers and producers of crack are caught with meth labs in their homes and they are warranted an opportunity to plead to time on paper, when in fact we already know that they have no intention of quitting the business. On the other hand, we have young children who are first-time offenders who are being given 20 years to life in prison with no chance at rehabilitation. Is it truly all about the money? How do people think these repeat drug offenders get so much money to be able to pay so-called expert lawyers to defend them? Sure, the system may be overcrowded, but my suggestion would be to let out some of the criminals who are nonviolent offenders and make room for the people who are destroying our communities with drugs, creating murderers, thieves and more drug dealers. People who been chosen to protect the justice system need to start taking responsibility for it and stop selling the future of America short. In the long run, your children and mine will pay the price for the actions of many, and having all the money in the world won't make things better. Donna S. Frizell Belzoni - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin