MICHIGAN PRISONS NOT FILLED WITH DRUG OFFENDERS

Let me be blunt: Michigan's prisons are NOT "awash" in drugs, nor are they
jammed to the rafters with drug offenders, as Nolan Finley wrote in his
Jan. 20 column ("Trio's ballot measure would restructure war on illicit
drugs").

Here are the facts.

With regard to whether prisons are awash in drugs, the Michigan Department
of Corrections randomly tests 3 percent of the prisoner population twice
every month. From Oct. 1, 2001 through Dec. 31, there were 10,311 random
samples taken.

Of those 10,311 tests, 0.5 percent (half of 1 percent) came back as positive.

The Detroit News, in the numerous opinion polls it commissions and relies
upon, uses a sample size much smaller than 10,311. If someone garnered half
of 1 percent of voter appeal in such a poll, would Finley rationally claim
the candidate is "awash" in popularity?

With regard to whether prisons are chock full of drug offenders, only about
10 percent of the population is serving for drug crimes, and the number
serving for simple possession is negligible.

More important, nearly all drug offenders who come to prison are
incarcerated because of some aggravating factor, such as pleading to a
lesser offense; having other concurrent or past offenses (usually things
like carrying a concealed weapon, home invasion or felony assault); already
being on parole or probation; and being absconders from parole or probation.

Is Finley advocating that Michigan eliminate judicial discretion and
calling for the immediate release of these career drug peddlers and thugs?

Perhaps before Finley stakes out a position on public policy -- in which
life and death literally are in the balance -- he could assess facts first.

Bill Martin

Lansing