FATHER DIDN'T SEEK JAIL

Dear editor,

Clarification needed.

After reading the article First time drug dealer given probation, I
feel it is necessary to clarify the fact that no where in my letter to
the honourable judge presiding did I say "Save my daughter by sending
her to jail."

I asked the judge "to consider, that drugs such as cocaine, crack,
crystal meth, etc. are destroying many of our young people." "Without
significant deterrence, this problem will only get worse" and in my
opinion "anything short of jail time, and or mandatory custodial rehab
will not help stop the problems".

A fine is just a cost of doing business, (and in this case, a small
one at that) and actually only exacerbates the problem, as more drugs
will be sold to make the money to pay the fines, for without proper
gainful employment, where else can it come from?

I asked that the judge "deal with this, as needs to be" in the hopes
he would consider giving my daughter a hard choice, of perhaps up to 6
months of mandatory custodial rehab verses a significantly longer jail
term as I had discussed with the federal prosecutor, forcing her to
make a life changing choice. Obviously, naive wishful thinking on the
part of a broken-hearted father.

Len Bleaney,

Port Hardy