In the Prison Capital of the World, with some of the harshest drug laws
for non-violent offenders, legislators continue to pile on laws that
will exacerbate racial and class inequities in drug enforcement.
Louisiana's RS 40:981.3 defines "drug-free zones" and states that any
owner of property can designate a drug-free zone by posting a sign: this
includes daycares, schools (private and public), public housing,
religious buildings, drug treatment facilities. The drug free zone
extends 2,000 feet from any such designated area. Up until now, private
homes where no one under 17 is present were excluded from the drug-free
zones. Senator Kostelka (R--District 25, includes Jackson,
Lincoln, Ouachita parishes) is introducing a bill today--SB 187--that
now includes private residences within those drug-free zones. The
consequences of such a bill are apparent: urban areas--and especially
the urban poor--will be most affected by this law.
Note
that the penalties are ENHANCED for those arrested for drugs in a
drug-free zone. The Zone was extended from 1000 ft. to 2000 ft. some
years ago. Now private homes will be considered in the drug free zone,
no matter if a teenager is present or not.
And those arrested in their private homes (apartments, public housing) can be charged 1 1/2 the maximum fine and 1 1/2 times the
"longest term of imprisonment."
Please do what you
can to communicate your opposition to this bill.
Here is the link to Judiciary C, where the bill will be discussed today: http://senate.la.gov/JudiciaryC/default.asp
Here is the link to the members of that committee: http://senate.la.gov/JudiciaryC/Assignments.asp
Here is a link to the bill: http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=875684&n=SB187%20Original
For more information on the impact of drug-free zones on certain portions of the population, see: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/04/14/3425658/the-true-price-of-drug-free-zones/
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