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