State & Local Government
US Supreme Court Hears California Prison Crowding Case, Advocates Urge California to Focus on Resolving Crisis, Including Ending Prison as Response to Drug Use (Press Release)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 30, 2010
CONTACT: Margaret Dooley-Sammuli at 213-291-4190 or Tommy McDonald 510-229-5215
US Supreme Court Hears California Prison Crowding Case
Advocates Urge California to Focus on Resolving Crisis, Including Ending Prison as Response to Drug Use
10,000 in Prison for Drug Possession at Cost of $500 Million a Year
WASHINGTON - November 30 - The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in Schwarzenegger v. Plata, a landmark prison rights case in which a federal court found the unconstitutional conditions of California's prisons were caused primarily by overcrowding and ordered California to reduce prison overcrowding from over 200% of design capacity down (by about 40,000 people) to 137.5% of capacity within two years. California has conceded that the state's prison conditions are unconstitutional but has nonetheless asked the Supreme Court to put the states' right to administer its prisons before the constitutional rights of individuals who are wards of the state.
"One of the primary reasons that the state's prisons are dangerously overcrowded is that California continues to lock up thousands of people each year for low-level drug possession. There is no basis in evidence or principle to expose people to this dangerous environment simply for the possession of a small amount of illicit substances," says Margaret Dooley-Sammuli, deputy state director for the Drug Policy Alliance in Southern California. "California must follow the lead of other states like Texas and New York and stop sending people to state prison for drug possession, which can be handled as a health issue safely, effectively and affordably in the community."
"The state currently spends $500 million a year to incarcerate 10,000 people for nothing more than personal drug possession," Dooley-Sammuli continued. "That does not include the unknown number of parolees who have been returned to prison for a few months based on the results of a drug test. This is a terrible waste of scarce resources. Treatment in the community is effective and affordable. Unfortunately, California this year eliminated funding for community-based treatment for drug possession arrestees."
"People who use drugs do not belong in the state's cruel and costly prisons simply for that personal use. We urge California to take the logical step of ending incarceration as a response to drug possession, while expanding opportunities for drug treatment in the community," continued Dooley-Sammuli.
Training Session -- Medical Marihuana in Michigan: Guidance for Local Governments
The Ottawa County Planning Commission is pleased to announce that it has scheduled a training titled, Medical Marihuana in Michigan: Guidance for Local Governments.
In 2008, Michigan voters approved a state-wide ballot initiative to permit the medical use of marijuana. The state legislature then adopted the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA). Since the passage of the Act, local governments have been working to interpret the new law, and ensure that their community is protected from any unintended negative effects. This training will provide information that will assist local governments in understanding the MMMA. In addition, information will be provided about issues that the Act does not address. This includes but is not limited to the following: federal preemption of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act; zoning for dispensaries and marijuana businesses; and approaches that can be utilized by local units of government to regulate medical marijuana.
The training session is open to local government officials, students, and all interested citizens. The instruction for this seminar is being donated by attorneys Ronald A. Bultje, and Daniel R. Martin, from the law firm of Scholten Fant; as a result, this seminar is free and open to the public.
A minimum number of participants is necessary for all training sessions; therefore, pre-registration is appreciated. To register for classes or obtain additional information, please contact the Ottawa County Planning and Performance Improvement Department at (616) 738-4852.
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