Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Summer study committees of the Indiana General Assembly are tackling two important issues. They're even related, so perhaps suggestions will be merged later on and discussed by one group. The issues:
Summer study committees of the Indiana General Assembly are tackling two important issues. They're even related, so perhaps suggestions will be merged later on and discussed by one group. The issues:
♦Prison sentencing reform. A bill calling for major reforms that would save millions and reduce prison crowding by making greater use of alternative sentencing was drafted based on some think-tank recommendations. The proposal crashed and burned last term, though, over objections by county prosecutors that it was soft on crime.
♦Marijuana law softening. State Sen. Karen Tallian, D- Portage, who introduced the bill creating the study committee, says most of the 2,000 responses she has received from constituents have been responsive to the idea of treating marijuana more like alcohol. The response from those in law enforcement has been, to be charitable, more mixed.
On prison reform, the General Assembly is trying a new approach - two different committees will discuss separate aspects of the change proposals. One committee will tackle theft and drug sentences. The other will take on sex-related sentences and may also work on drug proposals. It is hoped that this approach will yield better results than the last effort. Indiana's prisons are near capacity, so the dual goal is to save money and have more sensible sentencing - making sure the worst criminals get the severe punishments they deserve, without clogging prisons up with low-level offenders. Even if legislators can be convinced of the need for changes, winning over the prosecutors will remain a formidable challenge.
On marijuana, it's unclear whether legislators will merely try for a medical marijuana proposal or swing for the fences with a decriminalization proposal, but the fact that the issue is being discussed at all in the legislature is remarkable for this state. Thirteen states have eased penalties for having small amounts of marijuana, and medical marijuana is now available in 16 states. The benefits of medical marijuana are hotly debated, but there's no question that Indiana's pot laws are among the nation's most draconian. Possession of a small amount can be punished by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
We tend to want to just lock people away and not think about them anymore. That's not good for the prisoners, or for us. Sooner or later, most of those people are going to get out of prison, and we have to deal with them the way they come out and not the way they went in.
Likewise, it isn't smart to devise punishments and sentences and never think about them again. Times and circumstances change, and the General Assembly can no longer afford to just get tougher on crime without acknowledging the financial implications of that decision. Prison sentencing reform. A bill calling for major reforms that would save millions and reduce prison crowding by making greater use of alternative sentencing was drafted based on some think-tank recommendations. The proposal crashed and burned last term, though, over objections by county prosecutors that it was soft on crime.
♦Marijuana law softening. State Sen. Karen Tallian, D- Portage, who introduced the bill creating the study committee, says most of the 2,000 responses she has received from constituents have been responsive to the idea of treating marijuana more like alcohol. The response from those in law enforcement has been, to be charitable, more mixed.
On prison reform, the General Assembly is trying a new approach - two different committees will discuss separate aspects of the change proposals. One committee will tackle theft and drug sentences. The other will take on sex-related sentences and may also work on drug proposals. It is hoped that this approach will yield better results than the last effort. Indiana's prisons are near capacity, so the dual goal is to save money and have more sensible sentencing - making sure the worst criminals get the severe punishments they deserve, without clogging prisons up with low-level offenders. Even if legislators can be convinced of the need for changes, winning over the prosecutors will remain a formidable challenge.
On marijuana, it's unclear whether legislators will merely try for a medical marijuana proposal or swing for the fences with a decriminalization proposal, but the fact that the issue is being discussed at all in the legislature is remarkable for this state. Thirteen states have eased penalties for having small amounts of marijuana, and medical marijuana is now available in 16 states. The benefits of medical marijuana are hotly debated, but there's no question that Indiana's pot laws are among the nation's most draconian. Possession of a small amount can be punished by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
We tend to want to just lock people away and not think about them anymore. That's not good for the prisoners, or for us. Sooner or later, most of those people are going to get out of prison, and we have to deal with them the way they come out and not the way they went in.
Likewise, it isn't smart to devise punishments and sentences and never think about them again. Times and circumstances change, and the General Assembly can no longer afford to just get tougher on crime without acknowledging the financial implications of that decision.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jul 2011
Source: News-Sentinel, The (Fort Wayne, IN)
Copyright: 2011 The News-Sentinel
Website: News-Sentinel
Details: MapInc
Summer study committees of the Indiana General Assembly are tackling two important issues. They're even related, so perhaps suggestions will be merged later on and discussed by one group. The issues:
♦Prison sentencing reform. A bill calling for major reforms that would save millions and reduce prison crowding by making greater use of alternative sentencing was drafted based on some think-tank recommendations. The proposal crashed and burned last term, though, over objections by county prosecutors that it was soft on crime.
♦Marijuana law softening. State Sen. Karen Tallian, D- Portage, who introduced the bill creating the study committee, says most of the 2,000 responses she has received from constituents have been responsive to the idea of treating marijuana more like alcohol. The response from those in law enforcement has been, to be charitable, more mixed.
On prison reform, the General Assembly is trying a new approach - two different committees will discuss separate aspects of the change proposals. One committee will tackle theft and drug sentences. The other will take on sex-related sentences and may also work on drug proposals. It is hoped that this approach will yield better results than the last effort. Indiana's prisons are near capacity, so the dual goal is to save money and have more sensible sentencing - making sure the worst criminals get the severe punishments they deserve, without clogging prisons up with low-level offenders. Even if legislators can be convinced of the need for changes, winning over the prosecutors will remain a formidable challenge.
On marijuana, it's unclear whether legislators will merely try for a medical marijuana proposal or swing for the fences with a decriminalization proposal, but the fact that the issue is being discussed at all in the legislature is remarkable for this state. Thirteen states have eased penalties for having small amounts of marijuana, and medical marijuana is now available in 16 states. The benefits of medical marijuana are hotly debated, but there's no question that Indiana's pot laws are among the nation's most draconian. Possession of a small amount can be punished by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
We tend to want to just lock people away and not think about them anymore. That's not good for the prisoners, or for us. Sooner or later, most of those people are going to get out of prison, and we have to deal with them the way they come out and not the way they went in.
Likewise, it isn't smart to devise punishments and sentences and never think about them again. Times and circumstances change, and the General Assembly can no longer afford to just get tougher on crime without acknowledging the financial implications of that decision. Prison sentencing reform. A bill calling for major reforms that would save millions and reduce prison crowding by making greater use of alternative sentencing was drafted based on some think-tank recommendations. The proposal crashed and burned last term, though, over objections by county prosecutors that it was soft on crime.
♦Marijuana law softening. State Sen. Karen Tallian, D- Portage, who introduced the bill creating the study committee, says most of the 2,000 responses she has received from constituents have been responsive to the idea of treating marijuana more like alcohol. The response from those in law enforcement has been, to be charitable, more mixed.
On prison reform, the General Assembly is trying a new approach - two different committees will discuss separate aspects of the change proposals. One committee will tackle theft and drug sentences. The other will take on sex-related sentences and may also work on drug proposals. It is hoped that this approach will yield better results than the last effort. Indiana's prisons are near capacity, so the dual goal is to save money and have more sensible sentencing - making sure the worst criminals get the severe punishments they deserve, without clogging prisons up with low-level offenders. Even if legislators can be convinced of the need for changes, winning over the prosecutors will remain a formidable challenge.
On marijuana, it's unclear whether legislators will merely try for a medical marijuana proposal or swing for the fences with a decriminalization proposal, but the fact that the issue is being discussed at all in the legislature is remarkable for this state. Thirteen states have eased penalties for having small amounts of marijuana, and medical marijuana is now available in 16 states. The benefits of medical marijuana are hotly debated, but there's no question that Indiana's pot laws are among the nation's most draconian. Possession of a small amount can be punished by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
We tend to want to just lock people away and not think about them anymore. That's not good for the prisoners, or for us. Sooner or later, most of those people are going to get out of prison, and we have to deal with them the way they come out and not the way they went in.
Likewise, it isn't smart to devise punishments and sentences and never think about them again. Times and circumstances change, and the General Assembly can no longer afford to just get tougher on crime without acknowledging the financial implications of that decision.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jul 2011
Source: News-Sentinel, The (Fort Wayne, IN)
Copyright: 2011 The News-Sentinel
Website: News-Sentinel
Details: MapInc
