California might act to jail more drug offenders

I see that there is temptation to be the "same old same old" with no possible way to effect real change..
With something like over 30 million in Federal money to spend are we going to put more behind bars when we have to release 40,000 already?
It must be a huge money fix for a Federal money "Junky" California Law enforcement community.. Can they kick the habit? Will they spend on treatment or go for the main line and "pump it up when we don't really need it" to Paraphrase an Elvis Costello song. More overtime and more more more Federal Money ... Ahhhhhh... Must feel good...

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California might act to jail more drug offenders
A move to increase funding to anti-drug units could result in increasing the state's prison population at a time when it's under order to reduce overcrowding.



By Eric Bailey

August 18, 2009

Reporting from Sacramento - Two weeks after federal judges ordered California to reduce its prison population, an arm of the Schwarzenegger administration is set to vote on increased funding to police anti-drug units, potentially putting even more offenders behind bars.

An advisory board for the California Emergency Management Agency is expected to decide today whether to channel $33 million in federal money to narcotics task forces around the state that have proved particularly adept at apprehending drug criminals.

Critics of government drug policies say that money should instead be directed to drug-treatment programs whose funding has been sliced amid California's budget woes.

"While one side of the government is addressing prison overcrowding, another side seems to be acting directly counter to that goal," said Margaret Dooley-Sammuli, deputy state director of the nonprofit Drug Policy Alliance.

The bulk of the money is slated to help multi-jurisdictional task forces in all 58 California counties that investigate and apprehend narcotics offenders.

Money also would go to marijuana-suppression efforts around the state and the California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, which coordinates with federal agents on border drug trafficking.

John Lovell, a spokesman for the California Narcotics Officers' Assn., called the Drug Policy Alliance opposition "predictable" but wrong at a time when Mexican drug cartels are boosting methamphetamine production and operating marijuana plantations in state forests, including the one blamed for starting a wildfire over the weekend in Santa Barbara County.

He said the spending on anti-drug task force efforts is "not only appropriate, it's too bad the amount isn't larger."

Dooley-Sammuli believes the bulk of the money would go toward generating more arrests of street-level offenders, not on cracking down on high-level drug criminals.

"We're not getting the best bang for our buck," she said.

As now envisioned, the state's anti-drug abuse enforcement program could have its funding boosted substantially over last year, in part because of nearly $20 million in federal stimulus money allocated in July.

The Drug Policy Alliance estimates that the increase could yield 13,000 arrests during the coming year, resulting in prison time for nearly a quarter of those apprehended, at a cost of $160 million.

Funding for drug treatment programs was slashed roughly in half from $120 million two years ago.

Meanwhile, the state is grappling with pressure to reduce prison crowding.

This month, a three-judge panel ordered the state to shrink its prison population by more than 40,000 in the next two years.

Last month, legislators approved a $1.2-billion reduction in prison spending.

eric.bailey@latimes.com

[Rustylions]

So they take the advice of John Lovell (a man with a vested interest in attaining more money to his division) over the Drug Policy Alliance (a not for profit charity with no vested financial gain to their specific organisation.

Your federal government acts like a pimp for struggling states...

This story makes my blood boil.

Unfathomable in these economic times.

The ONLY industry to not only survive the recession, but to also THRIVE in the recession.

Unbelievable!

[coolx]

Anyone know what happened? They were supposed to decide today and it's now 7:30pm

[coolx]

That's strange - the story was posted yesterday, but the byline date is today!

[Hash Zeppelin]

this drug war shit gets more retarded everyday.

california's prisons are already at 180% capacity on average

Originally Posted by Hash Zeppelin

this drug war shit gets more retarded everyday.

california's prisons are already at 180% capacity on average

It's so true Hash..


Then again we in California try hard to keep wages low and productivity high from our workers so our business succeed.

The result is a lot of people just getting by.. That in turn scares those who "have" because there are so many "have nots" and so we want more prisons and more law enforcement to handle the threat.. Cannabis is that evil drug that causes Mexican to kill Whites remember?

LOL That comes from the Texas History I think.. They used that argument to criminalize cannabis in the first place..

Seriously Hash, my opinion is the fear factor of change is huge..

After the 60's a lot of 50's types were really trying to save the concept of the 50's society where all things are "American" and ultimately white..

Maybe people who were part of the 30's 40's and 50's have passed away now..

LOL The people of the 60's and 70's are not far behind.. We are seeing the politics changing.. It is changing no mater how hard some people want not to.

Keep on Keeping on Hash.. Each of us does a little to help the movement and it moves forward.. Stop in our tracks for fear and the movement slows.

Hey I am now laughing about those with negative legalization opinions in their face and it feels good!

Jack

[bergerbuddy]

And its too bad Law Enforcement has shit for brains and can only spew mexican meth labs... need money.. hell need MORE MONEY..

Fuckin California ALREADY is running 2 to 3 times capacity at ALL OF ITS PRISONS>..

If a FEDERAL PANEL of Judges says 40,000 need to be released... FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND NEED TO BE RELEASED...

Its a fuckin gladiator school in Cali prisons now....

NO PLACE FOR ANYONE BUT THE REAL DAMN BAD THAT REALLY NEED TO BE IN PRISON..