Comments on County Budget Cuts Could Keep Felony Defendents Out of Jail

An adage among many folks working in drug policy reform has been that the war in drugs will be killed off not by common sense or constitutional issues, but by budget crises.

Looks like we may be seeing an opening round here. Let's hope it's not long before other areas wake up and realize the enormous costs of prohibition.

Sounds like smack and crack will be legalized by default. Guess body bags are cheaper.

@2: Opening a safe injection site (let alone providing treatment on demand) would pretty much take care of the body bag issue as well as get if off the street and out of sight.

awesome. if drug possession stops being prosecuted seriously, there's no reason to keep arresting people.

Everyone agrees that county budget cuts suck, so maybe the Stranger will finish that thought and start advocating for new revenue sources for local governments.

Oh sure those overworked courts. Bullshit.

And who ever thought the word felony would be so debased as it is in minor drug busts.

Try more probation, community service, treatment, pleas that are fair and immediate, home detention, etc....

We will survive the projected wave of so called felons and felonies.

How about hearings on line with designated court staff to free judges up for bigger cases?

Don't fall in the trap that there is no fat in the system that can't be pared off - there is, plenty. No bureaucrat will ever tell you the budget is loaded with frills.

By the way - Dom - the story is what gives next budget cycle as the economy worsens? Real drug reform to counter he bogus war on drugs which has proved so costly. You bet.

I'd love to hear your editorial opinion of this Dominic.

@1 for the insightful win.

It's all about the ever expanding police state.

Which we middle class taxpayers are sick and tired of paying for.