Pubdate: Thu, 1 Jul 1999
Source: Meriden Record-Journal, The (CT)
Copyright: 1999, The Record-Journal Publishing Co.
Contact:  11 CrownStreet, P.O. Box 915, Meriden, CT 06450
Fax: (203) 639-0210
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Website: http://www.record-journal.com/
Author: Will Smith

DISPROPORTIONATE ARREST

Editor:

I applaud Allan Church's recent "Connecticut Remedies" column,
proposing sensible reforms in the realms of tax and educational
inequalities, as well as calling for an end to the current brutal and
counterproductive drug laws.

Church suggests town lines are no longer valid for organizing taxes
and school funding. I agree. Let's spread the educational dollars
around, and increase that pie by ending the insane drug-war explosion
of prison spending and life-wrecking prosecutions.

I can only add one small point: ending the "War on [Some] Drugs" will
also greatly decrease the disproportionate arrest of blacks and
Hispanics. Although their rates of use of "illegal" drugs are on a par
with whites, their likelihood of arrest is much higher, and of
incarceration higher still.

WILL SMITH
Branford
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