DRUGS AND PRISON

Re "Medical Neglect, Abuse Lie in Wait for State's Women Prisoners," Oct.
27: The drug war is now incarcerating bit players and users in record
numbers for long mandatory minimum sentences voted by our ever-tough
politicians. We say it is to "help" them, but Amnesty International has us
on the list of nations that torture political prisoners with such conditions.

Drug prohibition sends these nonviolent "offenders" to death and
degradation in the name of "sending a message" to the children. What
message are we really sending about force and the power of the majority to
legislate morality and to viciously wipe out a dissenting and helpless
minority?

Jim Rosenfield, Culver City