LEGAL SYSTEM, DRUG PROGRAMS RUN POORLY

It is a shame the way we run our legal system and drug programs.

Some good children are jailed for years because they committed a crime
while on drugs. No one tested them when they were arrested to see if they
had a drug problem.

The crime never would have been committed if not for illegal drugs.

The reason most of these children are on drugs include peer pressure and
problems within the family they just can't handle. They need our help. The
parents know their children are on drugs and can't do anything about it.
They just hope they live through it somehow.

Some children get killed or kill someone else. Sometimes they just get more
and more deeply involved in crimes that cost everyone.

The February issue of Reader's Digest featured an article, "From Dope to
Hope," about the drug court program in Birmingham, Ala., called Breaking
the Cycle. The program, implemented in 1996, with an emphasis on
drug-testing and rehabilitation, has resulted in a 33 percent drop in
violent crime in Birmingham. That might be something Amarillo and
surrounding towns should consider. Anything would be an improvement over
what we are doing now.

Our children need help, and by helping them, we help ourselves.

Forget about the drug dealers. Most of them don't do drugs anyway and are
there just to rake in the money.

We need to help our children to help themselves.

Let's get something going on this important issue. I can be contacted by
e-mail at smsh@arn.net.

Sally Shepherd

Amarillo