AUGUSTA – The ACLU of Maine today called on Governor Paul LePage and Public Safety Commissioner John Morris to consider drug policy reforms that take a health-based approach to drug abuse rather than putting more people into our criminal justice system.
“Maine’s prisons and jails are more crowded than ever, but that has done nothing to reduce the demand for drugs,” said Oamshri Amarasingham, policy counsel for the ACLU of Maine. “It’s time to look at health-based solutions that have been proven effective at reducing drug abuse, relieving our bloated criminal justice system and saving taxpayer money at the same time.”
The governor has announced two “Drug Awareness Summits” on Friday that are closed to media and the public. According to a press release from the governor’s office, the summits will focus on “the impacts of drug crimes on local communities, and the amount of illicit drug use that is taking place in Maine.”
“We are glad the governor is taking on the issue of rising drug abuse in Maine, and we hope he will address with it the thoughtful approach it requires,” said Amarasingham. “Conversations about drug policy reform must involve health professionals and harm reduction experts in addition to law enforcement.”
Largely due to so-called “War on Drugs,” now in its forty-second year, the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. However, recent budget crises have led many states, including traditionally “tough on crime” states, to turn to less-punitive approaches to criminal justice in order to save money while also keeping communities safe.
The ACLU of Maine has made reducing incarceration in Maine a top priority, and will be calling on city and state officials to consider policy reforms that reduce our dependence on the criminal justice system.
