ONE WAY TO EMPTY PRISONS: DECRIMINALIZE USE OF DRUGS

The Register's Aug. 30 editorial, "Empty More Prison Cells," advocating
greater use of parole and probation, makes excellent suggestions.

However, overlooked is still another suggestion that would have a greater
impact in reducing the number of inmates in prisons: Stop posturing about
being hard on crime and decriminalize the use of drugs.

This would still make the use of drugs illegal, but it would reduce the
space needed in prisons by one-third. An even greater impact would be on
the police force where a greater deal of its time would be spent on serious
crimes, on the court system where one-third of its time could be spent on
the backlog of serious cases and on the entire justice system.

It is hypocritical of the Legislature to make drug use and distribution
illegal while the greater drugs of tobacco and alcohol remain legal at
tremendous economic, social and psychological expense.

Frank P. Belcastro

Dubuque