North Dakota, Feds to Incarcerate Less Drug Offenders
(PRWEB) July 29, 2013 -- State Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said last week that drug crimes are on the rise, particularly in the state's oilfield region. The announcement came at the same time that feds are scrambling to create a new non-incarceration focused system for drug crime – a move that criminal defense lawyer Kevin DeVore of DeVore Law Office says is best for everyone.
President Obama has tasked Gil Kerlikowske, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, with expanding prevention and treatment and reducing the number of convicts sent to prison for drug charges. Nonviolent drug offenders would be diverted to rehabilitation centers without prison sentences according to the Daily Journal (7.20.13).
“Most drug 'criminals' are either harmless recreational users or addicts who need medical help,” said DeVore, who's been highly successful in defending individuals accused of drug charges. “The fact that law enforcement officers can't even keep up with arrests should indicate that we are over-criminalizing this.”
The western part of North Dakota is on track to have twice as many drug indictments this year as last year – more than one a day – and Fargo has over 200 a year, according to number from the US Attorney General. DeVore is based in Minnesota but also practices in North Dakota.
“When nonviolent drug users are sent to prison, it's not just a drain on taxpayer dollars,” DeVore said. “It's also the beginning of a cycle – they get even more addicted, while losing even more options.”
DeVore has hope that the new treatment-based approach will be good for drug convicts as well as the court system.
“The war on drug use has only guaranteed us more drug use.”
About Kevin DeVore:
Kevin W. DeVore is an experienced Minneapolis criminal defense attorney and founder of the DeVore Law Office. He has achieved numerous courtroom victories for his clients. Mr. DeVore has been named a SuperLawyer for 10 consecutive years and has one of the strongest success records of any lawyer in Minnesota. He can be contacted at:
30 East 7th Street
Suite 2800
St. Paul, MN 55101
(612) 836-9501
Kevin DeVore, DeVore Law Office, http://www.devorelawoffice.com/, 651.312.6519, [email protected]
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