Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Drug Policy
Here's an example of what effective drug policies could look like nation-wide. As is often the case, the progressive leaning California shows the way:
The state's (California) 6-year-old program that mandates treatment instead of prison sentences for drug offenders is dramatically decreasing California's jail population and saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a study released Wednesday.

The study, prepared by the left-leaning Justice Policy Institute in Washington, echoes another report released by UCLA earlier this month that also touted huge taxpayer savings through doing away with prison sentences in favor of treatment. That report said the program, which was passed by voters in 2000 as Proposition 36, saved California $173 million in its first year and $2.50 for every dollar invested since then.
You'd play hell getting that kind of investment return anywhere these days.

It's almost unimaginable to me what would happen to crime rates and the criminal justice system if drugs were legalized and regulated. Quality public policy can be cost effective as well as for the public good. Knee-jerk, emotionally driven public policies are rarely effective and often quite expensive.
Written at 6:04 PM by Greyhair.
1 comments
1 Comments:
Blogger Lynne said...
"Knee-jerk, emotionally driven public policies are rarely effective and often quite expensive."
But that's the Republican way. They are masters at framing the debates and issues in such emotionally driven terms. The abortion debates, the gay debates, the illegal immigrants debates are all examples of issues that are put forth for one reason: to divide the American public.
Compassionate Conservatives my ass. Cheers to California and all of you who voted for Proposition 36.
5:04 AM  
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