TIME TO SUPPORT PULKRABEK

I hope that the citizens of Johnson County who elected Sheriff Lonny
Pulkrabek will support him and his brave testimony to the state
legislature about providing a detoxification center for persons
publicly intoxicated but otherwise posing no problem to the
community, and reducing the penalty for small amounts of marijuana
possession to a simple misdemeanor.

There was a time in this county when these non-violent infractions of
the law were basically overlooked by law enforcement, people who were
bothering no one were left in peace, and the jail was reserved for
anti-social criminals who were put there to keep the rest of us safe.

I believe the community would like to return to that basic sanity.
Then, if and when there are enough real criminals to warrant the
construction of a new jail, citizens will be far more willing to
cooperate in funding one.

Luckily, we will be electing a new County Attorney this fall. I hope
the candidates for this office will let us know their positions on
this issue of non-violent crime, as the help of the County Attorney
will be a key factor in the effort to provide a detoxification center.

Caroline Dieterle

Iowa City