-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- Arizona pays $126,000 to jail armless woman for $20 marijuana violation WASHINGTON, DC -- A decision by Arizona prosecutors to put a woman with no arms and only one leg in prison for a year for a minor marijuana violation -- at a cost to taxpayers of $126,000 -- shows how pitiless and immoral the War on Drugs has become, the Libertarian Party said today. "Arizona prosecutors aren't content with inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on handicapped people; they apparently prefer their punishment to be ridiculously expensive, too," said Steve Dasbach, the party's national director. "When you consider that for the cost of locking up one handicapped woman who sold $20 of marijuana, Arizona could have put four murderers in a maximum security prison for a year, you have to wonder who's committing the real crime." This week, Deborah Lynn Quinn was placed in a "secure" medical unit by the Arizona Corrections Department. Her crime: Selling $20 of marijuana (four grams) to a police informant -- and then being caught with a small amount of marijuana in her home after being placed on probation. Because she was born with no arms and only a partial left leg, Quinn, 39, can't be sent to a regular prison. So, the state will pay $126,000 -- or $345 a day -- to keep her imprisoned in a special medical unit. By comparison, it costs the Arizona state government only $90 a day to keep a violent felon in a maximum security prison, and only $45-$50 a day to keep a typical inmate behind bars. While the details and cost of Quinn's sentence may be unusual, her plight is all too common, said Dasbach. "Deborah Lynn Quinn is attracting attention because she is handicapped, and because her situation is so tragic," he said. "But keep in mind: She was just one of 682,885 Americans arrested in 1998 on marijuana-related charges. And every one of those 682,885 Americans faced criminal charges, possible time in jail, lost employment, and shattered lives. The War on Drugs has handicapped their future as surely as the lack of arms and a leg has handicapped Deborah Lynn Quinn." Even worse, said Dasbach, is the fact that more people were arrested nationwide that year for marijuana charges (682,885) than were arrested for murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault combined (676,020), according to the FBI Uniform Crime Report. "Every one of those marijuana arrests meant less police time, less money, less court time, and fewer jail cells available to protect us from violent criminals," he said. "Does that make sense? And, likewise, does it really make sense for Arizona to spend $126,000 to keep a tragically handicapped woman behind bars for a year?" In fact, the price tag for Quinn is so outrageous that at least one Corrections officer is lobbying for a reduced or alternative sentence. However, Mohave County Chief Deputy Attorney Jace Zack said the punishment was appropriate because "drug dealers [are] dangerous people." But not as dangerous as crusading anti-drug zealots who don't care about compassion, decency, or common sense when waging their failed War on Drugs, said Dasbach. "Deborah Lynn Quinn may have no arms," he said. "But the people who put her in prison have no heart." <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
