NARCOTIC CASES

I've noticed that several recent articles published by the Free Press have
given the false impression that people are being given prison time for
"possessing narcotics." Many of these articles have been written by those
who advocate the legalization of most controlled substances, and include
wording such as "our prisons are full of people convicted of possessing
narcotics."

As a police officer who deals solely with narcotics crimes, I would like to
set the record straight. People in the state of Michigan are almost never
sentenced to prison terms for merely possessing narcotics. Even though the
possession of certain controlled substances, no matter what the amount,
calls for a prison sentence, most first-time offenders are sentenced to
probation accompanied by substance abuse treatment.

Those who are serving prison time for possessing narcotics, possessed them
in quantities that clearly showed an intent on their part to sell them, and
have been convicted of the crime of possession with intent to deliver.
Others that might be serving time for possessing narcotics are those with
very lengthy, often violent, criminal records and have been convicted of
being a "habitual offender." All have been shown beyond a reasonable doubt
to be a danger to society and in need of incarceration. Narcotics crimes
have been directly linked to violent criminal behavior, to most crimes of
theft and to the utter destruction of many families.

These articles mislead readers into thinking that people are being plucked
from the streets and placed in prison for the likes of having some marijuana
in their pocket. The Free Press should do more to control this obvious spin.

Mike Hahn,

Alpena