tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post5509150249183786974..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: First Texans released thanks to retroactive reduction of federal crack cocaine penalitesGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49344265641950097602008-03-22T16:54:00.000-05:002008-03-22T16:54:00.000-05:00In my neck of the woods,10% of the drug seizure fo...In my neck of the woods,10% of the drug seizure forefeiture money would go a very long way toward treatment. It seems like everytime I bring this up I get a blank look followed by a very cold shoulder. Is anybody asking for or receiving these funds?<BR/>Texas Statute Article 59.06-(3) of Subsection (c) of this article that the <BR/>funds described by those subdivisions be used only for the official <BR/>purposes of the attorney representing the state or for law <BR/>enforcement purposes, on agreement between the attorney <BR/>representing the state or the head of a law enforcement agency and <BR/>the governing body of a political subdivision, the attorney <BR/>representing the state or the head of the law enforcement agency <BR/>shall comply with the request of the governing body to deposit not <BR/>more than a total of 10 percent of the gross amount credited to the <BR/>attorney's or agency's fund into the treasury of the political <BR/>subdivision. The governing body of the political subdivision <BR/>shall, by ordinance, order, or resolution, use funds received under <BR/>this subsection for:<BR/>(1) nonprofit programs for the prevention of drug abuse; <BR/>(2) nonprofit chemical dependency treatment facilities <BR/>licensed under Chapter 464, Health and Safety Code;<BR/>(3) nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation or prevention <BR/>programs administered or staffed by professionals designated as <BR/>qualified and credentialed by the Texas Commission on Alcohol and <BR/>Drug Abuse; Does anybody know?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-28568213246575131952008-03-21T21:51:00.000-05:002008-03-21T21:51:00.000-05:00doc honeee, you just wrote on the exact same subje...doc honeee, you just wrote on the exact same subject I have been preaching about for some time now. Those who use drugs are in need of mental health care services and not insults and more abuse.<BR/><BR/>I am a medical person and I realize a mental disease is a physical disease and the person who uses drugs is in dire need of medical care, usually for depression and anxiety that accompanies depression. <BR/><BR/>The alternatives and sentencing guidelines across the whole judicial system need to be re-written and the Judges need to learn there is a need not being met and to just lock someone up does nothing to solve the problem <BR/><BR/>That same person comes sicker than they were when they were sent to prison, there is no help for them in prison, no rehab, medical care is non-existent and that includes mental health care, which is the same as physical health care. Help those who need help and stop sending them back to prison. Texas can no longer afford this. <BR/><BR/>Treatment for drug abuse is 6-9 months and then there is no guarantee sometimes a longer time span is needed to help this person.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for saying the same things I have been saying over and over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-42984108115391180102008-03-20T08:33:00.000-05:002008-03-20T08:33:00.000-05:00The issue of sentencing guidelines is almost endle...The issue of sentencing guidelines is almost endless. Until our society identifies people with drug/alcohol dependencies as people with a physical disease, in need of mental health services, we will continue to fill jails with them. They will continue to spiral out control and cost the very society that shuns them a lot of money. There are alternatives and sentencing guidelines across the boards need to be rewritten to reflect a solution to the penal society that is emerging. We can't afford to do anything else.doc's honeeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16251428853283454920noreply@blogger.com