Pubdate: Sat, 06 Aug 2005
Source: Tucson Citizen (AZ)
Copyright: 2005 Tucson Citizen
Contact:  http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/461
Author: Kirk Muse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

TAKE THE KEY AND LOCK 'EM UP

I'm writing about your thoughtful editorial "Senate panel OKs strong 
anti-meth law," Wednesday.

Keeping the ingredients of meth behind the counter is certainly a better 
solution than the non-solution of building more and bigger prisons.

Oklahoma learned the hard way that so-called "tough on drugs" policies 
don't work and are very expensive. Largely because of its tough on drugs 
policies, Oklahoma became the fourth-highest state for incarcerations.

Largely because of our war on drugs, the United States has been transformed 
into the most incarcerated nation in history. With less than 5 percent of 
the world's population, the U.S. has more than 25 percent of the world's 
prisoners.

One of every 4 prisoners in the world is locked in an American jail or 
prison. What message does this send to the rest of the world?

Kirk Muse

Mesa 
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MAP posted-by: Beth