DON'T WASTE JAIL SPACE WITH DRUG USERS

Everyone knows that the jail is overpopulated and that the Benito
DA-run office was a bad one. What exactly is new District Attorney
Steve Carlton going to do to fix these problems?

The jail is filled up with people who are recreational drug users who
get felony convictions for possession of very small amounts - less
than a half gram - of meth, which isn't a new problem to Shasta
County. Sending these people to prison or filling the jail with them,
most who aren't "criminals" or dealers, is not right. This practice
breaks up families, and that is even a bigger hit to the community.
It's unjust and it's unfair. It costs the county a lot of unnecessary
money, which can be spent elsewhere.

I'm not saying that people should just get off with no consequences.
I'm just saying be fair. That's justice.

Carlton said his interest is in justice, and justice is not sending
people away who are not selling the drug but had a small user's
amount. You can say, "well people shouldn't use drugs and that's what
they get," but remember that these people may be your family or
friends or maybe someone who you know. Keep in mind that I'm talking
about possession of a small amount.

Michael Brooks, Redding