FUND TREATMENT NOT COPS

Congress has funded our law enforcement officers well, and they have
done an excellent job. According to a recent report, 1 in every 100
Americans is in jail or prison. Because our jails and prisons are
packed, states have come up with alternatives such as community
corrections programs and drug courts in order to divert nonviolent
drug offenders away from the prison system to make room for the
violent offenders.

Treatment for nonviolent drug offenders is more cost-effective but,
due to Congress not wanting to look soft on crime, these programs are
underfunded. We need to let members of Congress know they won't be
condemned for taking a more compassionate and cost-effective approach
to our drug-abuse problem. They need to reform the laws concerning
mere drug possession and free up more money for education, prevention
and treatment. This could lead to more money to treat all the people
with a drug-abuse problem, not just the ones who get caught.

The focus needs to change from arrest, prosecution and incarceration
to education, prevention and treatment if we are ever going to see a
reduction in our drug-abuse problem. This change in focus, along with
the reform of drug-possession laws, would put our tax dollars to
better use and be a lot more humane.

Dawn Palmer

Tarrant