STATE DRUG LAWS CAUSE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE

I am responding to former Gov. William G. Milliken's commentary about our
harsh drug laws and how these laws need to be changed ("Michigan must
reform harsh drug sentences," Sept. 20). As an average citizen, I never
really knew how harsh these laws were until this past year when a family
member was arrested for selling cocaine.

He was not addicted to cocaine, but was shown by a much bigger dealer how
easy it was to make money. He was given the clientele and soon he was on a
downward spiral.

This went on for seven months, and in the meantime his supplier was having
other legal problems. Although they were very good friends since childhood,
his supplier gave him up to the police for leniency for his own legal
problems. His home was raided and he was found with 86 grams of cocaine. He
is now facing a mandatory 10-year sentence.

I do not condone any criminal behavior. But the fact that my family member
has no previous criminal record should be taken into account. He never even
owned a weapon and is nonviolent. He is married with a five-year-old
daughter and holds down a regular job. He has worked in a convalescent home
and delivers for the meals-on-wheels program each holiday. He is a good
person who made a mistake.

As for the supplier, he is still out there. He served no jail time, and
with the help of his well-known "drug lawyer," he is back to his old way of
life. What kind of justice is this?

There are so many other measures besides prison terms that would be
appropriate for first-time drug offenders -- probation, work release,
community service.

Linda MacDonald, Taylor