FOCUS ON PREVENTION

A prospective juror who intends to vote for acquittal regardless of
evidence presented probably would be screened out during jury
selection. If not, he or she would then have to make a believable case
for acquittal to the other jurors, not an easy task. But this may not
be needed.

Budget constraints are forcing the Legislature to consider minor steps
to de-escalate the drug war. It won't be a "surrender" or "drug
legalization." The most likely scenario will be to reduce funding and
shift it from enforcement to prevention and treatment, both far more
effective uses of tax dollars. State Sen. Victor Crist, chair of the
Criminal Justice Budget Committee, has already begun to consider what
such a shift might look like. We should welcome this discussion.

John Chase, Palm Harbor