NARCONON HAS A QUESTION FOR FLORIDA
Narconon has long been a proponent of treatment, in lieu of incarceration, for offenders who are addicts, but when it comes to Florida we have a question. In light of all the recent busts, is the state considering that these “pill mills” guys might not have to go to the slammer?
We would hope that it is understood that pills from the sunny state have travelled across the country and in some cases have been involved in overdoses. People have died and there certainly should be no leniency for their killers.
Florida used to export a lot of oranges. Maybe they still do, but they have become better known as exporters of prescription drugs. A good PR move for the state would be to show they mean business with these drug dealers who for some reason have had a legal umbrella to hide under for a while. Let justice reign.
“A new proposal would scrap all minimum mandatory sentences for those accused of non-violent drug offenses.
Two Florida lawmakers, Republican Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale and Democrat Ari Porth of Coral Springs, touted the bill today as a way to save millions and shift the sunshine state’s focus from doing time to getting treatment.
Too many folks snared by the current mandatory prison sentences are addicts, they say, not criminals.
“The courtroom where all of the information and evidence is being presented is the best place for it to be determined what kind of treatment that individual needs or what kind of punishment that individual needs,” Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff said.
“There are short term savings of we think millions of dollars, intermediate tens of millions, and maybe after several years, three to four years after we get this going, we believe hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Dominic Calabro of Florida Taxwatch
Yet critics say these minimum mandatory sentences target drug traffickers and those sentences vary from 3 years to life based on the amount of drugs in question.
The Florida Sheriff’s Association says weakening the minimum mandatory sentences sends the wrong message.”
“These minimum mandatory sentences are critical because they are a significant deterrent. We must send a clear message to Floridians: Drug trafficking will not be tolerated. Any weakening or diminishing of the mandatory minimum sentencing sends the wrong message,” said Seminole County Sheriff Donald Eslinger, ….