DRUG WAR WEAK, MANY READERS SAY

Early returns are running about 3-to-1 against the criminal-justice
professor who believes the drug war is succeeding as a surrogate for a war
on violent crime.

A former Houston policeman who became a Harris County prosecutor, Mark
Stelter currently is an associate professor of criminal justice at
Montgomery College. He explained here on Wednesday why he believes that
"when you take a crackhead off the street, you are not just removing a drug
user, you are also removing a burglar or a robber."

He said that since studies have shown that 6 percent of the population
commits 80 percent of the crime, the goal of our prison policy should be to
identify the errant 6 percent, "and to incapacitate them, reform them or do
whatever it takes."

I mentioned that, although I enjoyed talking with Stelter, his views on the
drug war scared me, and I solicited comments in the ongoing debate and
discussion of our criminal-justice system. Following are selected excerpts
rebutting Stelter's stand.

We're Not Winning The War:

. "Stelter is preaching a kind of rogue communitarianism: Society must
punish `some' for the benefit of all. That the `some' are being punished,
based on arbitrary and frequently racist profiling criteria, in large part
for crimes they did not commit (rape, murder and robbery) but might commit
in the future, not only violates every principle this country stands for
but indicates a selective sadism towards a segment of society (the young,
the poor, those of color) that is reminiscent of Nazi behavior toward Jews.
In the market place of ideas, professor Stelter's theory is unproved,
unethical, discriminatory and cruel. It should not be in strong demand by a
civil society." -- Fredric Raines, associate professor of economics,
Washington University, St. Louis.

. "The war on drugs has not been a success. Mr. Stelter's claim to the
contrary reminds me of speeches by General Westmoreland in the late 1960s
about how we were winning the war in Vietnam. Over the years, drug laws
have gotten much tougher. Enforcement is way up. Many more drug offenders
are being locked up. But, for every drug offender that is locked up, one or
two others start using drugs. Prison is not working. Experience has shown
that education and treatment are two of the most valuable keys to winning
the war on drugs." -- Bill C. Messick, attorney, Mobile, Ala.

. "If one even tries to discuss any alternative to allowing the police and
drug testers to have their way, you are labeled as a `liberal' or `closet
drug user.' It is just like the days of McCarthy. To question the system is
to be taken out by the system." -- Chris Young.

. "He (Stelter) plays games with statistics and cause and effect. ... But
even if he is partly correct, incarceration for one offense because we
think they in all likelihood are involved in violent crimes opens up some
huge cracks in freedom." -- Dallas Wolf, age 70.

. "We could all wind up in prison if we follow that line of thought. How
about we punish the violent and let the nonviolent live in peace? OR is
that too much to ask?" -- Don Dickerson.

We Need To Rethink Policy:

. "As a high school student, I know countless marijuana users and a few
former coke users but no crack addicts. Most of them are bright (and
otherwise law-abiding) people who have an invaluable gift to give to
society, not the violent criminals who need to be `incapacitated' somehow.
... While the idea of inundating penitentiaries with useful people to get a
handful of actual criminals sounds simpler than going to the root of the
problem, its fiscal and human costs are, in my opinion, unacceptable. This
nation's drug policy must be rethought." -- Raman Shah, age 16.

. "If you want to curtail crime, violent or nonviolent, then you must
provide a means for drug addicts to obtain drugs without the need to
acquire them illegally." -- Don E. Bynum, retired Harris County sheriff's
detective.

. "Are we all truly at risk for addictive and destructive behavior from
legalized drug use? I think not, but this question should not be difficult
to answer by trained researchers. Start by asking the next 100 people you
meet a few questions such as: Have you ever used an illegal drug? Do you
still use it or other `harder' drugs? Do you feel you are in danger of
becoming addicted? Has your use of a drug ever caused harm to you or anyone
else?" -- Ed Dow, M.D.

. "My best friend is in jail now for three years for possession, not
dealing. Tell his wife and daughter he deserves this treatment." -- Leland
Turner.