Sober Skaters

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

The State of California instituted a drug diversion program under Proposition 36. This legislation allows non-violent 1st and 2nd simple possesion drug offenders to get treatment instead of incarceration. This has proven to be much more effective, and less expensive than simply locking the person up in jail. It is my personal opinion that more States, Counties and Cities need to impliment programs such as Prop. 36. You can find more information concerning Prop. 36 here:

http://www.prop36.org/

If your lacality doesn't offer such programs, contact your elected officials to encourage them to research such a program for your area.

Roger "Doc". Cool

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Utah East Office Building, Suite E220
PO Box 142220
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2220

Dear Governor Huntsman, Jr.,

As a taxpayer and voter, I'm writing to urge you to consider long overdue
sentencing reform as a means of balancing the state budget. Incarcerating
nonviolent drug offenders cannot be justified from either a fiscal or public
health perspective. Jail cells and criminal records do not cure addiction.
Non-violent drug offenders are eventually released, with dismal job prospects
due to criminal records. Turning drug users into unemployable ex-cons is a
senseless waste of tax dollars.

Please take a leadership role and add your voice to the growing nationwide
movement towards alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders.
As long as there exists an unmet need for effective drug treatment on demand, it
makes no sense to continue the "lock 'em up" approach, an approach that has done
little other than give the former land of the free the highest incarceration
rate in the world. The tax dollars wasted on incarcerating Americans with
substance abuse problems would be better spent on effective drug treatment.

Thank you for showing leadership on this issue.

Sincerely,

Roger Thompson.

Roger "Doc". Cool

UncleMike · Professional Advisor Forum Moderator

As a Prop 36 counselor I am here to tell you of the miracles I have seen. Especially the burnt out meth users who undergo a metamorphosis. Taking a first time offender and locking him up with Bubba as a roomy where he can learn ways to “beat the system” or otherwise sourer on society.