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Ferre
Cannabis Sacrament Minister.
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
Posts: 7295
Location: Amsterdam
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 Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:03 pm Post subject: Disgrace |
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| www.wvgazette.com wrote: |
March 23, 2005
Disgrace
Why so many prisons?
AMERICA is tainted by its horrendous rate of prisoners locked in cells. This nation jails about six times more people per capita than do Canada, England, Mexico and other countries.
The United States has 2.1 million citizens in steel cages. Since it costs about $22,000 to hold each convict annually, taxpayers must cough up $40 billion-plus per year for incarceration.
California spends more for prisons than for higher education. Texas is the lock-”em-up capital, with more prisons than any other state. Texas has built 100 new prisons since 1980.
Why is America the world’s biggest stockade? Are Americans six times more criminal than people in Canada, England, Mexico, etc.? Of course not. The disgraceful U.S. lockup rate may come from harsh, judgmental, unforgiving attitudes inherited from Puritan founders. Vast numbers of Americans are locked up for drugs. Other societies are more tolerant of addicts, but not America.
Last month, a study by the state Council of Churches and two other humanitarian groups — plus a second study by the Criminal Justice Analysis Center — showed that the number of West Virginians in cells skyrocketed from 2,300 to more than 5,000 in the past decade. Taxpayer costs likewise doubled.
The Legislature, desperate to find enough revenue to run the state government, is jarred by the soaring lockup tab. Meanwhile, county commissions are wracked by the cost of keeping defendants in regional jails. Last year, Kanawha’s expense was $3.1 million.
Now, Kanawha commissioners see a way to reduce the incarceration burden. They want to put nonviolent offenders on probation — leaving them free to hold jobs — and make them report to a center where they’ll get drug counseling, GED classes, career help and the like.
The commission already has hired a director for the day reporting center, and is applying for a state grant to employ counselors and officers. Freed offenders would be charged perhaps $150 a month to help pay for the liberating system. Any who slipped back into dope or crime would lose their freedom, joining the multitude in cells.
Bravo. We think this is a splendid plan, and we hope the state grant is obtained. In fact, we hope the whole country utilizes such alternative sentences to the greatest degree possible. Anything that reduces the grotesque rate of Americans in steel cages will be a blessing.
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Rev. Chazman
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 15 Nov 2003
Posts: 1403
Location: Illinois - USA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with you Brother, it is a disgrace. Property forfiture is on the rise also. Its big business, and a way of controlling those deemed unacceptable. Is it any wonder that more laws are made each year?
Answer me this... Do more laws make less law breakers or more?
Peace
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I praise good thoughts, good words, and good deeds and those that are to be thought, spoken, and done. I do accept all good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. I do renounce all evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds. ---Avesta: Yasna
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Future Servant of Cannatopia ©2004 - ∞ Rev. Chazman all rights reserved |
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Torkel
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 1396
Location: West Virginia, USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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Yea, I was one of the 5,000+ inmates during that period 
Rev Chaz wrote:
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| Answer me this... Do more laws make less law breakers or more? |
More... 
About a month or so ago I mailed this letter to my state senator:
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Dear Senator Oliverio,
The number of people imprisoned in West Virginia more than doubled between 1994 and 2004, from 2,392 to 5,032. That is a 52% increase! Unbelievable considering the vast majority of the prisoners are classified as "non-violent" offenders. This increase is for the large part due to the "war on drugs" which is a failure-just look at the FACTS. Let us stop the insane war on drugs, now.
It's time that we stop pretending that this policy on drugs is beneficial to our state and country and I ask you, as our elected representative, take action to remedy this failure of a law.
The sheriff of Marion county, Junior Slaughter stated, "Holding non-violent offenders in regional jails will bankrupt the counties."
As one of your constituents, I request that you please consider the following facts:
"Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known. ..." This was the finding of the DEA's chief administrative law judge, Francis Young. No one has ever died from a marijuana overdose.
But right now, sick and dying medical marijuana patients are in grave danger -- but that danger comes from West Virginia authorities. These patients risk arrest and imprisonment for treating their extreme pain, insomnia, depression, nausea, multiple sclerosis spasms, and glaucoma.
Another legislative session has passed without these vulnerable members of society receiving relief from that danger. Please do not leave these patients in peril again next year. Ten states have enacted compassionate laws removing criminal penalties for the doctor-approved medical use of marijuana. It is time for West Virginia to follow suit.
Please let me know if you will sponsor medical marijuana legislation next session.
Respectfully, |
Here is the letter of response that I recieved from the senator:
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Dear Mr. Torkel:
Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the legalization of marijuana use. While I oppose the legalization of marijuana use in our society, I understand it may have some limited medicinal use for certain patients. If members of the medical community were to reach agreement on this issue and come to us offering legislation of this type, I may be inclined to support that.
I do oppose legislation legalizing marijuana to the general public though. Thank you for your thoughts on this matter, please feel free to call on me.
Sincerely yours,
Michael A. Oliverio, II |
Peace,
Torkel
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Miller vs U.S. (230 F 2nd 486,489): "The claim and exercise of a Constitutional right cannot be converted into a crime."
Miranda vs Arizona (384 U.S. 436, 125): "Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule-making or legislation which would abrogate them."
HAGANS vs LAVINE (415 US 533 N-3,note 5): "Once JURISDICTION is challenged it must be proven by the Plaintiff." |
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