Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jan 2012
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2012 Suzanne Wills
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/lettertoed.cgi
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Suzanne Wills

RACE A FACTOR IN LIGHT SENTENCE

Re: "Of laced muffins and being a mother," by Steve Blow, Sunday Metro column.

It is good to know that a stupid teenage prank, delivering 
marijuana-laced muffins to the teachers' lounge at Lake Highlands 
High School, will not ruin "Niall's" chances of reaching his potential in life.

The outcome very likely would not have been the same had Niall been 
African-American.

According to "And Justice for Some" by the National Council on Crime 
and Delinquency, "Throughout the [criminal justice] system, youth of 
color - especially African-American youth - receive different and 
harsher treatment."

This includes - for the same offense - more arrests, more detention, 
more placements outside the home and more admissions to adult prison. 
Unnecessary arrest and incarceration is not only a tragedy for the 
teen, it leads to a devastating downward spiral for his family and 
his community.

"Equal Justice Under the Law" should be more than a slogan.

Suzanne Wills, Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Dallas
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