New York Times
November 1, 2008

To the Editor:

“The California Prison Disaster” (editorial, Oct. 25) offers a prime example of what happens when the prison industrial complex is unencumbered by any checks or balances. The only thing not mentioned in the editorial was that Californians will have a chance to approve a responsible solution on Election Day: Proposition 5.

This initiative, called the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act, would increase treatment access for youth and nonviolent offenders, and reduce prison overcrowding. It’s also the only initiative on the ballot that would provide a significant net savings for taxpayers.

Unfortunately, the campaign to defeat Proposition 5 just raised millions of dollars from the prison guards union, the beer distributors association and Indian casino tribes with close links to law enforcement. So the state’s prison disaster will remain unsolved–unless or until California’s voters see what they’re really up against.

Ethan Nadelmann
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance Network
New York