CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM LEAVES COMMUNITY IN LURCH

I would like to commend Mary Sulem's June 25 letter. No one has ever stated
so clearly and so factually on the laws of our judicial system here on the
islands. To put it clearly, our system sucks!

Because of our drug epidemic, families are torn apart, children are going
into foster care, grandparents and parents are getting murdered by their own
children, there is spouse abuse, child abuse, grandparents raising
grandchildren while parents are out on the street, committing crimes to
support a drug habit and young girls are selling their bodies for a quick
fix.

How do I know this? It has hit home numerous times. Not to point fingers,
but I have called the police department and asked for help. The answer I
got: "We have to find drugs on this person" and "We don't want the
crackheads, we want the dealers."

How will we ever get rid of this drug epidemic if the judiciary remains
lenient? Having stiff maximum sentences for drugs, with no ands ifs or buts,
might get them thinking before they even start.

And, if you feel drug traffic is going on in your neighborhood don't be
afraid to report it. You can remain anonymous. Open up your eyes. You are
the leaders of our community!

Leona Salomon

Kahului