News (Media Awareness Project) - US HI: PUB LTE: Mandatory Sentences Victimize Addicts Again |
| Title: | US HI: PUB LTE: Mandatory Sentences Victimize Addicts Again |
| Published On: | 2002-05-12 |
| Source: | Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-23 08:01:10 |
MANDATORY SENTENCES VICTIMIZE ADDICTS AGAIN
To those who advocate prison for the nonviolent drug offender, I must agree
that there are no victimless crimes, but punishment must fit the crime.
There is no justice in a 5-year term for a Vietnam veteran addicted to
heroin or in repeat-offender statutes that dictate mandatory minimums and
extended sentences for the neglected or abused child or adult on ice.
Placing nonviolent addicts in prison is a crime within itself. The victims
are the addicts, their families and the taxpayer.
Michael Spiker, Inmate Addict
To those who advocate prison for the nonviolent drug offender, I must agree
that there are no victimless crimes, but punishment must fit the crime.
There is no justice in a 5-year term for a Vietnam veteran addicted to
heroin or in repeat-offender statutes that dictate mandatory minimums and
extended sentences for the neglected or abused child or adult on ice.
Placing nonviolent addicts in prison is a crime within itself. The victims
are the addicts, their families and the taxpayer.
Michael Spiker, Inmate Addict
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