Drug Laws Destroy Families

[BlueCat]

For the first time in history, the number of inmates in American prisons and jails has exceeded 2 million people, a rate of incarceration that is the highest in the world! This has happened despite the fact that violent crime has fallen to its lowest levels since 1974, when data was first collected nationally. Drug offenses account for nearly 60% of the federal prison population and more than 20% of the state inmate population.

Women should be held responsible for their own actions, not the actions of others. Current drug laws unfairly "widen the net."
> Women drug users should be treated as patients, not prisoners. Drug addiction is a disease, not a crime.
> Mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes should be repealed, and Congress must consider women and families when re-evaluating sentencing policy.
> Women serve double sentences once convicted of drug crimes: one in prison and one when they lose custody of their children under a federal law known as the Adoption & Safe Families Act.

http://www.fairlaws4families.org/news/

JUST SAY NO TO BUSH.

BlueCat Reviewed by BlueCat on 08-17-2005. Drug Laws Destroy Families For the first time in history, the number of inmates in American prisons and jails has exceeded 2 million people, a rate of incarceration that is the highest in the world! This has happened despite the fact that violent crime has fallen to its lowest levels since 1974, when data was first collected nationally. Drug offenses account for nearly 60% of the federal prison population and more than 20% of the state inmate population. Women should be held responsible for their own actions, not the Rating: 5

[ermitonto]

Yup, all the Republicrats and Demicans here are strangely silent about their leaders' uniform complicity in the War on Drugs. Speak up, people. Why are you supporting people who support severe restrictions on our freedom to do what we wish with our own bodies? I can think of no justification.

[Miss Green]

Wow that is a stagering amount of people to be in jail holy crap! I mean seriously I truely think bush needs to look at his legislations on drugs and think is this really worth all these jail's over flowing with minor crimes when there is serious people out there commiting real serious crimes eg: vilonce,armed hold ups,rapes and murder (i spose that would go under vilonce) so they really need to wake up.I think he could also save alot of money that would go to other important things like education for all people and alot better health services lets face it you guys out there only deserve the best for both yourselves and your children ( that's if you've got any) so he should think about these things.

[BlueCat]

Right on Ermitonto! They can wave their flags all day long when it comes to invading other countries but you can hear a pin drop when it comes time to talk about the politicians against our weed and what their laws are doing to the innocent people of our country.

[papaw]

For the first time in history, the number of inmates in American prisons and jails has exceeded 2 million people, a rate of incarceration that is the highest in the world! This has happened despite the fact that violent crime has fallen to its lowest levels since 1974, when data was first collected nationally. Drug offenses account for nearly 60% of the federal prison population and more than 20% of the state inmate population.

Women should be held responsible for their own actions, not the actions of others. Current drug laws unfairly "widen the net."
> Women drug users should be treated as patients, not prisoners. Drug addiction is a disease, not a crime.
> Mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes should be repealed, and Congress must consider women and families when re-evaluating sentencing policy.
> Women serve double sentences once convicted of drug crimes: one in prison and one when they lose custody of their children under a federal law known as the Adoption & Safe Families Act.

http://www.fairlaws4families.org/news/

JUST SAY NO TO BUSH.

I think this is a very interesting point. But why should women be treated differently? Incarcerated fathers also destroy families. But the main point is that it is unconstitutional to mandate different sentencing guidelines based on gender. It violates equal protection. It would be like having different sentences based on race, religion, etc.