Pubdate: Mon, 05 Aug 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Mike Clow

THE DRUG WAR AND THE NATION'S APPROACH TO PRISONS

Re: "Backing off state prisons," Aug. 1 news story.

Your article discussing the growing number of violent offenders being 
placed in less-secure community correction centers is a great first 
step to taking a hard look at our whole system.

Since President Nixon started the war on drugs, we have been feeding 
a for-profit system with the mentally ill and nonviolent pot smokers 
so they can be turned into hardened criminals. Once they get out, 
jobs are nearly impossible to find, so recidivism remains high.

Once we have broken from the "build it and we will fill it" approach 
to prisons and begun to look at the whole cost to communities, cities 
and states, we can make the fundamental changes that are so desperately needed.

We must first recognize those with mental and drug problems and treat 
them separately. We should also refrain from locking up people for 
pot in any form as these people displace the more violent offenders.

Mike Clow, Colorado Springs
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom