New plan may help dealers go straight?

[mick mouse]

Tucson Arizona police department plans a new initiative in the next couple of months that will help low level drug dealers get out of the business before they are arrested or have charges filed against them.

Suspected drug dealers are confronted by family and community members who talk about the negative impact of their behavior, followed by another meeting with law enforcement, at which point the evidence is laid out and an ultimatum is made: stop dealing or face the consequences.

Those who agree to stop dealing will not have charges filed against them, but will be arrested if they are caught dealing again. The police department will track those who accept the offer and make resources available, such as rehabilitation services, education, and job training.

This program has been tried in at least 6 cities accross the nation, and Tucson would be the largest city to use it. The focus will be to clean up entire neighborhoods, rather than to take out dealers one or two at a time.

Sounds like a get out of jail free card to me!

Source: Arizona Daily Star-www.azstarnet.com