Monday, November 7, 2016

On Friday, November 4, Chuck Lindell who covers legal issues, politics and states agencies for Austin American statesman released some compelling information on Federal inmates. President Obama cut short another 72 sentences for federal drug crimes on Friday (as of now totaling 944 federal inmates- 324 who were serving life sentences!-WOW, how did I not know about this…hmm maybe we’re all too fixated elsewhere...)  Counting seven Texans; including two inmates that are from Austin Texas.  One of the inmates from Austin is Darryl Dewayne Frazier who was sentenced in 1997 to almost 22 years in prison, mainly for possession of crack cocaine—He’s spent about 19 years in prison, but he is scheduled to be released on March 4th.
Obama believes that some of these sentences are too harsh of a punishment for non-violent drug related crimes- and quite frankly I AGREE. People who are sentenced for drug crimes are usually uncontrollably addicted to such drugs and are usually of lower income; these are people who need rehabilitation and psychiatric help. Not at all am I condoning their drug use but personally I feel that these people deserve a second chance in society. Federal prisons should be reserved for murderers, rapists, child molesters and terrorists. Don't you think we have bigger fish to fry than someone who is struggling with drug addiction?

2 comments:

  1. I also agree. To take a step even further I don't believe any form of ramification is necessary to drug consumption, distribution or production. Maximum sentencings avoid the real problem people face with addiction and substance abuse as well as ill-willed entrepreneurs wanting to take advantage of this black market. The war on drugs is a failed campaign. https://goo.gl/JH4hfw

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  2. In response to the article written at "Under The Pecan Tree" found here, regarding commutation of sentences by the President for time served in relation to non violent drug offenses, I completely agree. All the mandatory minimum laws established back in the 80's and 90's for drugs have created far more problems than solved. The hope was the knowledge of guarunteed incarceration would dissuade people from drugs. Recently, even the advocates for mandatory minimum sentences and those who wrote the laws have agreed that it does not work and has caused mass overcrowding of the penal system. It's time to move past these ridiculous laws and focus on real criminal offenses.

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