Ohio Governor Opposes Drug-Reform Initiative April 26, 2002
News Summary
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft said he is against a proposed ballot initiative that would require judges to sentence nonviolent, first-time drug offenders to addiction treatment rather than prison, the Associated Press reported April 24.Currently, state law gives judges the option of sending a drug offender to prison or treatment.
Taft said the initiative, which will be on the Nov. 5 ballot, would reverse the progress the state has made in treating individuals with alcohol and other drug addiction. He cited the state's 48 drug courts that specialize in the treatment of early offenders.
"Drug courts have a valuable tool that the drug initiative would eliminate," Taft said. "Addiction is not a one-size-fits-all disease. Treatment should not be a one-size-fits-all solution."
The Ohio Campaign for New Drug Policies initiated the ballot proposal and obtained the required signatures to bring the issue before voters. Edward Orlett, manager of the campaign, said the proposal would expand drug courts to all 88 counties and save taxpayers the cost of housing nonviolent offenders in prisons.
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