Pubdate: Thu, 26 May 2011 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2011 Los Angeles Times Contact: http://www.latimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248 Author: Wesley Mason PRISON PITFALLS Re "State ordered to slash inmate levels," May 24 I would be happy to see the release of the thousands now incarcerated for nonviolent crimes such as possession of marijuana or cocaine. I do not see them as a threat. If, for much lower cost, they receive drug treatment, education and job training in the community and are allowed to freely participate in society, most will become law-abiding, productive Americans. That most nonviolent "drug offenders" in prison are African American or Latino reflects not the prevalence of drug use but the way the "war on drugs" has been focused on those communities. Current policies created a class of permanently stigmatized Americans labeled as "felons." Let's end the unjust mass incarceration frenzy of the last 30 years. There is a better way. Wesley Mason Claremont - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake