From: jerry.burger%[m--sh--n] at [akix.uucp] (Jerry Burger) 
Newsgroups: alt.drugs
Subject: JUSTICE STUDY
Date: 5 Feb 94 15:43:00 GMT

JUSTICE STUDY HITS MANDATORY DRUG SENTENCES 

WASHINGTON (Reuter) - The Justice Department released a long-awaited
study Friday that questions the effectiveness of tough mandatory criminal
sentences for minor drug offenses. 
The study, ordered by Attorney General Janet Reno in May, already has
caused controversy at the White House, where some aides fear it will hurt
President Clinton's effort to appear tough on crime, a major political 
issue.

The study also will fuel the debate in Congress when it considers
so-called mandatory minimum sentences as it takes up new crime legislation. 
Clinton has expressed support for tough sentences while campaigning and
since taking office. But Reno has questioned long sentences for low-level
drug offenders, saying prison space could be better used for violent, 
repeat
criminals. 
The lengthy study, prepared by departing Deputy Attorney General Philip
Heymann, found that long sentences entail certain costs for the criminal
justice system. 
``If sentences for drug crimes, especially those involving relatively
small amounts of drugs and in which the defendant had a peripheral role are
perceived as too harsh, this perception may diminish the value of long
sentences for crimes considered more serious, such as those involving
violence." 
The study said long sentences for low-level offenders also used up
expensive and scarce prison space. 
The study said it costs $20,000 a year to house a federal inmate, and
that minor drug offenders with no prior criminal records now account for 
one
of five federal prisoners. 
It said a short prison sentence would be just as likely to deter
low-level drug offenders as a long one. 

Transmitted:  94-02-05 09:46:00 EST




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