'DRUG WAR' FAILURES NOW COST TOO MUCH IN WASTE, CORRUPTION

In these tough economic times I find it troubling that our federal
government is still spending billions of taxpayer dollars
incarcerating nonviolent offenders. This is all a result of “The War
on Drugs.” Mandatory sentences were instituted, a bill was passed to
revoke bail and 65 percent good-time credit was changed to 85 percent.
In other words, more money was being spent to incarcerate the same
type of criminals – nonviolent drug offenders. Advertisement

Some nonviolent offenders are given 20- to 40-year sentences for
crimes. All the while, white-collar criminals are given lenient
sentences for crimes that cost us all billions of dollars annually.
Meanwhile, violent offenders are given parole at alarming rates and
not surprisingly, recidivate by committing more violent crimes.

The “lock ’em up and throw away the key” philosophy is not working.
Rather than locking up these nonviolent criminals who in most cases
have children and families we should be looking at making punishments
fit the crime. How can a murderer be paroled after 15 years while a
drug dealer receives a mandatory 30? We need to reintroduce 65 percent
good-time credit, bring back parole for nonviolent federal inmates and
offer rehabilitation rather than long-term incapacitation.

Tigran Petrosian

Downingtown, Pa.