ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, September 2, 1996 TAG: 9609030086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
A new anti-drug policy is going to put the squeeze on Henrico County drug offenders. Now they will have to turn in the people who sold them the drugs.
Commonwealth's Attorney Toby Vick said the policy will ``build into place a sanction [for drug offenders] that we think will have a very chilling effect on the drug distribution networks.''
Beginning Tuesday, people convicted of drug offenses in Henrico will be called before a grand jury and ordered to reveal who sold them drugs. Those who refuse will face a contempt of court charge and jail time.
The policy, the first of its kind in Virginia, will apply to felony and misdemeanor drug offenses.
Henrico's courts handled about 1,500 felony drug cases last year and an undetermined number of misdemeanor cases.
``If you get caught with a little bit of marijuana, you're telling us where you got it,'' said Vick, who helped devise the new policy.
Not everyone is as enthusiastic.
``It makes great ink, and it makes great film at 11, but in reality I question the effectiveness of such a program,'' said veteran defense lawyer David Boone.
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB