VETO HURTS ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS

It is truly disheartening to learn that Gov. Bill Owens vetoed SB 39, a
bill that passed the legislature with strong bipartisan backing. The
measure would have reduced sentences for possession of less than a gram of
certain drugs and used the money thus saved for additional drug treatment
programs.

Although the bill is dead for this year, Colorado still needs to change the
way we view drug addiction and punishment.

In his veto message, Owens cited the state's budget crunch and said he did
not want to divert operating dollars from the Department of Corrections to
fund a new duplicative bureaucratic institution that would put more
criminals on the streets.

But Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, sponsor of the bill, cites compelling
evidence that this overdue reform would reduce crime while saving money -
and lives. The bill, which passed the Republican-controlled House 61-4,
would not have taken operating funds from the Department of Corrections.
Instead, it would have reduced prison costs because the need for
incarceration would decrease.

The legislation would not have put dangerous criminals on the street. It
would have lowered the criminal classification for a first offense of
possession of 1 gram or less of certain controlled substances from a class
3 to a class 6 felony, among other reductions based on the type and amount
of illegal drug found. Those convicted of possession still would have gone
to court. But those in possession of less than a gram of certain controlled
substances who are not dealing would have seen a reduction in sentences.
Instead of four to 12 years of prison in many cases, such convicted felons
would face 12 to 18 months. The resulting savings, estimated at $2.2
million, would have been used to treat drug offenders. If a savings wasn't
realized, the program would have been dropped.

Seventy-five percent of inmates in Colorado's prisons have a substance
abuse problem - but only half of those receive any type of therapy. The
other half are released on no better than when they went in - and highly
likely to again commit crimes to support their habits.

SB 39 would have reduced the penalty for possession of small amounts of
some drugs and increased funds for treatment, the only realistic way to
reduce drug dependency in Colorado. We encourage legislators to address
this issue again when they reconvene in January. We also urge Owens to
reconsider how the state deals with those plagued with drug addiction.

Imprisoning minor drug offenders for draconian sentences but failing to
treat them in or out of prison has locked Colorado into an expensive cycle
of drug abuse, crime and imprisonment. The state must provide treatment for
all substance abusers in order to reduce crime, save money - and give a
chance at a drug-free life, instead of a life of crime.