Pubdate: Mon, 13 Feb 2006
Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen (IA)
Copyright: 2006 Iowa City Press-Citizen
Contact:  http://www.press-citizen.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1330
Author: Caroline Dieterle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

TIME TO SUPPORT PULKRABEK

I hope that the citizens of Johnson County who elected Sheriff Lonny 
Pulkrabek will support him and his brave testimony to the state 
legislature about providing a detoxification center for persons 
publicly intoxicated but otherwise posing no problem to the 
community, and reducing the penalty for small amounts of marijuana 
possession to a simple misdemeanor.

There was a time in this county when these non-violent infractions of 
the law were basically overlooked by law enforcement, people who were 
bothering no one were left in peace, and the jail was reserved for 
anti-social criminals who were put there to keep the rest of us safe.

I believe the community would like to return to that basic sanity. 
Then, if and when there are enough real criminals to warrant the 
construction of a new jail, citizens will be far more willing to 
cooperate in funding one.

Luckily, we will be electing a new County Attorney this fall. I hope 
the candidates for this office will let us know their positions on 
this issue of non-violent crime, as the help of the County Attorney 
will be a key factor in the effort to provide a detoxification center.

Caroline Dieterle

Iowa City