The ACLU of Ohio urges a “yes” vote on State Issue 1, which will reduce the number of people in state prison and reinvest the savings to drug treatment programs and community services. The ballot measure would amend the state Constitution and require all fourth- and fifth-degree felony offenses for obtaining, possessing, or using drugs or drug paraphernalia to be reclassified as misdemeanors.
"For decades the Ohio General Assembly has refused to acknowledge our over-crowded prisons, has repeatedly increased and enhanced sentences for drug use and possession, and has perpetuated the failed 'War on Drugs' in a disastrous way. Ohio voters now have the opportunity to reform our broken criminal justice system by supporting Issue 1," said Gary Daniels, chief lobbyist for the ACLU of Ohio. "At its core, the initiative will improve community health, reduce our prison populations, and reinvest in communities." READ MORE
Cutting through the hype: What Issue 1 would mean in Ohio https://t.co/THBnAxpIGT via @KatieWedell
— Kara Driscoll (@KaraDDriscoll) October 23, 2018
The Neighborhood Safety and Drug Treatment Amendment, Issue 1, would not change laws or funding for incarcerating people convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, and child molestation. A broad, bipartisan coalition of community, faith, law enforcement, and business groups has formed to support this measure and help Ohio improve safety and reduce prison costs.
It's time to stop wasting prison space on people convicted of nonviolent crimes and people that are no longer a threat to public safety. Ohio needs a balanced approach to public safety that includes treatment, rehabilitation and accountability. READ MORE
Ohio Issue 1 could substantially reduce incarceration of non-violent Ohioans and redirect resources toward treatment and community safety.
The initiative is designed to increase public safety and reduce incarceration in four major ways. It reclassifies non-violent drug possession as a misdemeanor and assigns those Ohioans to treatment or other community-based approaches. It prevents re-imprisonment of formerly incarcerated community members when their only new infraction is a probation violation that is not itself a crime. It rewards rehabilitation by allowing those in prison to earn credits that reduce sentence terms if they take part in education, behavioral, and treatment programs. Finally, it redirects savings from reduced incarceration to treatment, safety and victim recovery programs for Ohioans of all ages, which should improve safety and reduce addiction. READ MORE