4/27/09 Drug Free Zones

Drug Free Zones What are drug free zones? ? For Doing what? ? possessing and selling drugs ? Where? ? withing 1000 ft of a school, public housing, public parks ? What is a "school? ? includes public/private schools. Those who are home schooled are considered to be in private schools ? so if you're smoking weed next door and you don't know then you can be punished under this law ? Why are not all homes drug free zones? ? Public housing is a drug free zones. If you have a felony conviction you cannot live in public housing. ? Legislature assuemes public housing has most people that are more likely to do drugs. Since the government is paying for it they can put whatever conditions they want. (kind of like how in public schools they can search lockers) ? this means that more poor people will get convicted. ? Is everything included within zone? ? are moving vehicles inclued drug free zones? ? yes, if you're driving past a public school and get stopped you can be subject to the drug free zone. ? How do drug free zones increase prosecutors power? ? you get double the penalty in the zone so prosecutor can get you to plead guilty Stated purpose ? What is the purpose of drug free zones ? to keep drugs away from kids ? Has it been achieved? ? nope. If you keep arresting drug dealers then there will be replacements so it doesn't really do anything Hidden agenda? ? geographical scope? ? there are cities where basically the whole place is a drug free zone...lots of these places are filled with minorities ? disproportionate affects where/whom? ? minorities in cities that have basically no drug free zones. This means that minorities will get worse punishments compared to middle class white people who's cities have less drug free zones. ? why do drug free zones have little deterence effect? ? if basically everywhere is a drug free zone then people wont be able to get away from it and will just do the drugs by schools ? Disparate penalties? Punishment depends on? ? where you do the drugs but not the severity of the crime ? Consistent with purpose of manditory minimum sentencing?