A recent article in the Metrowest Daily News discusses proposed changes in law including shrinking the distance that was intended to keep schools and other public facilities and land from crimes including drug selling and distribution.
Why do you feel it is being proposed? Will it help reduce sentences? What would you suggest if given the opportunity to weigh in?
Shrink school zone for drug offenses? - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News
I read this article and my first reaction was "why would we reduce the sentence for drug dealers?". As I read more into the article it explained how most of the cases do not involve actually selling drugs to children or anyone on school grounds but rather the drug dealers houses are located within the 1,000 foot limit of a school zone. Now, there are no easy answers but a problem that we are having is that our prisons are over filled. I believe over 50% of those federal prisons are filled with non-violent drug offenders and with this law of distribution in a school zone it carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum of 2 years in prison if convicted. I think this law will carry a severe penalty if the drug dealers are actually selling drugs on school grounds to children and it will free up space for those of whom this law was designed for, people who are infringing on the protection of the children. I also believe what they are proposing would now be 100 feet from a school which might be too small of an area.
ReplyDelete-JMA.
Wow!, I agree with Rep. Fattman on the fact that this new law is crazy. It seems like a bargaining deal to those who commit drug crimes. Seems like the Govenor is trying to keep votes by trying to save budget money, but his focus is ubsurd. Society is making to many deals instead of putting their foot down. Societies standards has gotten lower and lower since I remember as a child. There are so many issues and areas in which I see the world giving up its morals to bargain with crime, criminals and immoral behaviors these days. Instead of cracking down on the dealers, he is giving more leeway and less punishment for the known crime. What's next, sex offenders can live closer to school children too! (B. Sos)
ReplyDeleteDeval Patrick is trying to cut down on spending in any way he can. Shrinking the school zone-law is not the answer, in my opinion. It sends the wrong message to the community and encourages drug dealers to continue their behavior. I think it will also result in drugs becoming more readily available to kids. The DA’s will also lose an effective bargaining tool.
ReplyDeleteThe governor needs to look elsewhere to save money. There’s too much at stake here.
– Matt Fallon
I'll tell you what, sex offenders are serving far less time in prison than most of drug offenders living in school zones. Some non violent drug offenders are serving 20+ years where you have sex offenders and rapists who are "changed people" receiving reduced sentences either through plea bargains or parole.(TOL)
ReplyDeleteThe main topic nowadays is the fact that there is overcrowding in prisons and many officials are trying anything to reduce the capactity in them. This is the main reason for proposing the bill in the first place. It will reduce sentences given to offenders because they will only incarcerate violent drug offenders, and nonviolent offenders will be let off on probation. Reducing the distance for which drug offenders can be from a school is ridiculous. How will this make it safer for the kids in school and what will parents think of it? I would suggest that nonviolent offenders can be let off on probation, but the distance from schools should stay the same out of safety for the students. More focus should be given to the people that proposed bills will effect and less on saving money.
ReplyDeleteI think that people that say that the jails are filled with non violent drug dealers have just become numb to the fact that we have drugs being sold all around us. It is no less legal than it ever was, it is just so prevelant that in comparison to the violence that goes on in front of us everyday, we as a society feel that is is somehow less of a crime. The majority of violent crimes that are committed are because people are either on drugs, or attempting to illegally get money to buy them. I feel that we now more than ever need to be tougher on drugs, and their consequences.
ReplyDelete-Tyler
Tough questions being asked here.
ReplyDeleteIs there any research out there that would suggest what a drug dealer's sphere of influence is in these types of situations? What about research on whether or not drug sales around school zones is even a problem being battled by law enforcement in Massachusetts? The one chief stated that they have made zero arrests, is that a sign of immeasurable success or is it a sign on a problem that is receiving attention that it does not warrant?
It is understandable that with the drag net being set at 1,000 feet there are people getting caught in it that might not deserve the enhanced penalties, but what is sacraficed when you reduce the zone to 100 feet? 100 feet is within ear shot of the school and while I never had to walk to or from school, a child that does would be more likely to enoucounter said drug dealer if that drug dealer were to be targeting that school.
In any case, if the Massachusetts legislators can't trust their own politicians to be within 150 feet from a school, why close that gap for any potential drug dealer? Absent any educated decision based on research, I say keep it even across the board - 150 feet for drug dealer and politian alike!
It really does not make sense of the guidelines of drug dealers changing the distance from the schools. Most kids especially high school students know about and could be doing drugs which increases the risk of criminal acts being committed around schools and more kids getting involved. I don't understand how Deval Patrick is going to close 2 prisons with all the criminals that should and need to be locked up. I think drug dealers cause serious problems and crime whether it be a child selling or doing or a parent doing drugs which breaks up the family that could cause more crime. It's extremely suprising that the politicians have a longer measure of how far they have to be on election day than drug dealers. I understand we need to make budget cuts but is this the way to go?
ReplyDelete- Apryl Cardwell