Colorado lawmakers are working hard to eliminate unnecessary sentencing for nonviolent drug offenses.
If you are facing drug charges of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled substance (such as cocaine, meth, heroin – or their street names, barbs, ice, dirt, dope, vic, applejacks, etc.) in Weld, Morgan, or Logan County, it is important to have an attorney fighting for your rights to make sure you can stay out of the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Federal Government Called to Reduce Mandatory Sentences
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder understands something about our justice system: That we put way too many people in prison for way too long. He referenced overwhelming statistics in his recent speech to the American Bar Association:
“As a nation, we are coldly efficient in our incarceration efforts…even though this country comprises just 5 percent of the world’s population, we incarcerate almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners. More than 219,000 federal inmates are currently behind bars. Almost half of them are serving time for drug-related crimes, and many have substance use disorders.” The government should differentiate between drug users and drug dealers.
Attorney General Holder echoes what many of us believe: Mandatory sentences for nonviolent drug offenses in Greeley, Fort Lupton, and Windsor are ineffective. Our Colorado prisons are already overcrowded, and burdening them unnecessarily, with nonviolent offenders is not only expensive for taxpayers, but ineffective at rehabilitating them.
Colorado Has Been Working to Reduce Mandatory Sentencing for Nonviolent Drug Offenses
Our attorney general is calling on the Federal government to put into effect what many states have already done, including Colorado. In a recent session, our legislature passed looser guidelines for sentencing nonviolent drug offenses. The law prioritizes treatment over imprisonment, and focuses on distinguishing between the people who deal drugs, and the people who are addicted to drugs. Legislation was passed in 2010 which lowered sentences for up to 4 grams of many drugs. This was expected to save taxpayers $55 million in prison and jail costs over five years.
If you or a loved one is facing charges of unlawful possession of controlled substances like marijuana, meth, or cocaine in Weld County, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009, or submit the “Get Help Now” form. Together, we can protect your future.
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Related Resources:
- Read the rest of Attorney General Eric Holder’s remarks
- Learn more about drug charges in Weld County
Image Credit: Pixabay – Daniel_B_photos