Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 11, 1993 TAG: 9309110033
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
What is your view on the mandatory jail sentencing for drug offenders?
- Judith Bennett, Vinton
How do you feel about first-time non-violent drug offenders and how do you stand on drug issues?
- Janine Davidson , Penhook Mary Sue Terry:
"During my tenure as attorney general, I worked on both the demand side and the supply side of drug problems. On the demand side, I helped develop the CADRE program, which is a public/private partnership at the local level to help us create alternatives to drug use, create a supportive environment to help keep kids off drugs. That program has been successful, but it needs to be continued, needs to be expanded. It's a very cost-effective program and does not rely to any great extent on taxpayer dollars.
"On the supply side of the equation, some years ago as attorney general, I proposed and the General Assembly adopted, a tough, three-time loser bill to abolish parole for a person convicted of multiple drug offenses. When we're talking about individuals who are selling drugs in violation of our drug control laws, those individuals need to spend time in the penitentiary, and while some might view their offenses as non-violent, I don't view it as non-violent to the extent that these folks ought to be put in alternative incarceration programs. I support our existing laws, which provide flexibility on the part of the judge, when it comes to individuals charged with simple possession." George Allen:
"I look at drug offenders in two classes. You have the drug dealers and they should be incarcerated. Most importantly, we should go after the assets of drug dealers that are traceable to illegal drug dealing. That's something I've worked on for many years when I served in the legislature to, first of all, allow the forfeiture of those ill-gotten assets. And then I worked for a constitutional amendment to allocate the proceeds from the sale of those ill-gotten gains to law enforcement so they could make use of them for undercover drug buys, pay informants, and overtime surveillance costs. That's going after the drug dealers and we have to have strong punishment of them and get after their assets - after all, it's a business.
"As far as the users are concerned, I think drug users also should be held accountable for their acts. Because if there weren't users, there wouldn't be suppliers. They create the demand. For users, there should be mandatory minimum fines, which increase for subsequent offenses. I think alternatives such as home electronic-incarceration should be looked at. For youthful, first-time offenders, I think boot camp is a worthy approach that's been found to deter further crimes. Their repeat-offender rate is very low. Many of those youthful offenders are missing discipline in their lives. They're not getting it at home, or through a sports team."
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by CNB