Hennepin County's judges did a study not that many years ago in which it was clearly demonstrated that sentencing for drug offenses was, by law, set up to imprison minority/street corner crack dealers to a greater extent than white powder cocaine dealers. An attempt was made to change the law so that crack cocaine and powder cocaine were equally sentenced (federal and state, I think). I could be mistaken, but I think those attempts failed.
We know that legislators, police, court systems, and general population are in sync with that disparity in law and accept Bouza's pronouncement of what police are for because that's what we have supported over and over by whom we elect and what we ask them to focus their attention on.
Let me illustrate: Last year U.S. Justice Department Weed & Seed efforts could get grants of $125,000 or so, $50,000 of which must go to police services including police athletic leagues. For 2003, we have received an edict from D.C. that $100,000 must go to police and the use of that money cannot include police athletic leagues. The three Weed & Seed areas in Minneapolis are Green Central (Central Neighborhood), Phillips, and Near North. If ever there were areas where prevention and treatment were important to take pressure off the police department by diverting kids, particularly, away from a sordid criminal life, these are the ones.
You might also want to know that originally under George Bush, pere (a program his bunch conceived and funded) Weed & Seed was designed to pay the cost of having tanks and soldiers move in on sections of cities like Philadelphia, which city was highlighted early on. Thank god those cities protested loudly and long so that the program changed it's requirements.
However, I would argue that under George Bush, fils it is still the federal government's viewpoint that tanks and soldiers and other draconian measures are something you subject your own people to. The law made by the federal government and approved by the voters and supported by custom continues, largely unchallenged.
We spend two and three- digit billions on justice, defense, and now homeland security. By contrast, what we spend on education or our population, prevention, treatment, and anti-poverty programs is shamefully paltry.
Until we decide, as the body politic, to change that paradigm, we will have the situation we now face. The general welfare of the people is never first on the list when we are apportioning the jointly owned money we have.
WizardMarks, Central
Barbara L. Nelson wrote:
Several list members have suggested that there be more enforcement of laws re the drug trade. One even suggests that there is a lawsuit in the making re public officials' neglect of enforcement of State laws and the Minneapolis Charter.Correct me if I'm wrong, but earlier this year wasn't there a posting about how the police are frustrated because when they make arrests of this nature the courts do not keep the criminals in jail? I think it was stated that it's a 3-day turnaround from arrest to being back on the streets. So, it seems to me that enforcement is only the tip of the iceberg. Who has jurisdiction in prosecuting these crimes? Is it the City Attorney or the County Attorney? Whoever, I'll bet they could tell some horror stories.From the discussion thus far it appears the solution has many parts. To namesome that have been mentioned: * better enforcement and serious jail time for offenders * early intervention to prevent youth from becoming gang accultured * job training to divert youth from the "job" of drug dealer and worse * some agglomeration of services to "keep" young people in school * working to curb demand for drugs as well as supply (isn't this the Feds' jurisdiction?) I humbly suggest that since arresting these people doesn't seem to keep them off the streets, that they be harrassed off the streets. Is it possible to combine community activism with enough police to keep shooing the dealers from corner to corner and never letting them have enough time to set up shop? Isn't this how Humphrey got rid of the gangsters when he was mayor? If it worked once, why don't we try the same tactic -- it seems timeless enough. As far as the services/preventive end of the equation a lot of what is being suggested is already available, but not coordinated. Since we have limited resources to spend, I suggest: * research the "successful" programs of other cities, as referred to by V. Freeman *we divert the attention of police to this problem and mobilize communities to support a harrassment strategy * work with state legislators to change the sentencing guidelines for offenders in the city of Minneapolis, or the metro area in general * set up an inter-agency Task Force for the sole purpose of coordinating services that are shown (proven) helpful in diverting youth from turning to a gang life Are these first steps practical realistic and doable? Barbara Nelson Burnsville Once and Future Minneapolitan -- Barbara Nelson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -- John Wooden _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
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