Discuss the first installment of the Dust-Up on Prop. 5

The idea that we can put everyone in jail for everything has gotten California into a prison over crowding problem that cannot go on. Since we know people re offend and end back in prison with the current laws perhaps it is time to try something new. I suggest forcing them to finish their programs, send them back to jail to complete sentences if they re offend with added time. There are those who would benefit from this new law and those who will never change. Better to help some than throw them all out with the bath water.

Pat @ 9:27 AM PDT, Oct 31, 2008

You are so right about prop. 5. If district attorneys applied the 3 strikes law to violent rapists and murderers, we would not be in this mess. Instead, they have used their power, since they are the ones who deciede who is prosecuted under 3 strikes. The way the law is applied now murderers and rapists get less time than non violent repeat drug offenders. Drugs make people crazy, why does our law enforcement not close the borders,since we know how the drugs are getting in here. They come from mexico. We are not in a war down there on the border because day laborers want in here to work.

jane rahn @ 9:10 AM PDT, Oct 31, 2008

We have created a niche industry by incarcerating non violent offenders. Proposition 5 appears to be a modified probation program overseen by a judge, not the free get out of jail card all the mean, self righteous wing nuts want us to believe.

Raul Garcia @ 8:42 AM PDT, Oct 31, 2008

Follow the money to see who opposes prop 5. Mr.Cooley is a District Attorney, the only way he can justify the money his office gets it by making sure there are plenty of people to prosecute. The 5 governors who oppose it, they have all benefited from contributions from the 'prison interests' What we are doing with drug offenders does not work, and is enormously expensive. But, expecting a different approach from those who financially benefit from this fiasco is like expecting accountants to support tax code simplification.

kiraj @ 8:33 AM PDT, Oct 31, 2008

howz about: you have tent prisons like in maricopa cnty, az, a good border fence, and deport any illegal guilty of any crime. i would adopt mexico's immigration law word for word--don't even translate it; the spanish version would be the authentic version.

demolino @ 12:20 AM PDT, Oct 31, 2008

http://www.laweekly.com/2008-10-30/news/propostion-5-the-most-threatening-to-the-prison-industrial-complex/

Mark Groubert @ 11:44 PM PDT, Oct 30, 2008

Prohibition has never worked. History has shown us that. It is time to reconsider the 2.5 TRILLION dollars spent on the never ending "War on Drugs." On July 5, this newspaper said "The United States has been spending $69 billion a year worldwide for the last 40 years, for a total of $2.5 trillion, on drug prohibition. Today, there are more drugs on our streets at cheaper prices than ever before. There are more than 1.2 million people behind bars in the U.S., and a large percentage of them for nonviolent drug usage." Time to get some common sense concerning with this failed drug policy.

Alan Shore @ 8:42 PM PDT, Oct 30, 2008

Mr. Cooley, Prop. 5 is not a blanket check for any offender to escape punishment. Your analogy is extreme and unsubstantiated. It is unfortunate to see that you view these offenders on equal footing with rapists and murderers. This is a harsh, draconian method that has not worked; instead, it has put these offenders in a worse position, flunked California budget, and stagnated the criminal justice system. I will make sure who to vote for next time for Los Angeles DA position as I do not trust where your heart is and whose interests you are representing.

Hasmik G., Los Angeles, CA @ 6:23 PM PDT, Oct 30, 2008

I agree with Kreit. save 2.5 billion and stop wasting money.

-=FEGA=- @ 6:00 PM PDT, Oct 30, 2008

I'm glad I don't live in LA County. Mr. Cooley should be more concerned with looking at the facts and the past rather than exaggerating partial truths to gain publicity and future votes for his next election.

Kreit Fan @ 5:41 PM PDT, Oct 30, 2008

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