Letters from Deeth, Maybanks

Letters from Deeth, Maybanks

My letter to the editor in praise of Lonny Pulkrabek ran today:

Honest talk on taboo topics

Thank you, Lonny Pulkrabek, for having the guts to stand up to the drug war mentality by calling for more sensible penalties and policies for small-amount simple drug possession and public intoxication ("White responds to marijuana ideas," Feb. 10).

It's regrettable that lame duck county attorney J. Patrick White is hostile to reform. The candidates to succeed him, Janet Lyness and Nick Maybanks, should be asked about this issue at every candidate forum. So should our legislators and legislative candidates -- and they should not be let off easy with non-answers about how this won't reach the floor.

Sheriff Pulkrabek has taken a step forward in promoting sensible discussion of this taboo topic, and Iowans should take advantage of the opportunity.

John Deeth
Iowa City

Before publication, I cc'd it to the two county attorney candidates. Got this open reply from Nick Maybanks:

Justice System Needs Fresh Ideas


As a Prosecutor, I know the County Attorney can and should do more to ease jail overflow and spearhead a new method of processing criminal cases through our system.

Sheriff Pulkrabek bravely approached the Iowa Legislature and told them that we need to change the way we process low-level alcohol and drug offenses. Despite criticisms to the contrary, the Sheriff is not proposing that we ignore laws against excessive drinking or use of illegal drugs. The Sheriff has the best interests of the community in mind, as do I. I contend it is time we take a serious look at the way in which low-level alcohol and drug offenses are overwhelming our system, burdening our overcrowded jail and taking the focus away from more serious, violent offenders.

Since I announced my campaign, I have consistently advocated for fresh ideas. Like Sheriff Pulkrabek, I believe that Johnson County ultimately needs a new correctional facility. This facility could include a detoxification/treatment center along with additional space for violent offenders. In the meantime, police should be encouraged to cite and release marijuana offenders on a promise to appear in court and we should investigate alternate placement for non-violent intoxicated persons.

I also believe we should supplement jail diversion programs already implemented by the Sheriff with court-diversion programs that permit low-level offenders to avoid incarceration and a criminal record by remaining arrest-free during a period of probation, seek treatment and perform community service. The community is safer from these offenders when we give them a stake in their own success, rather than the current "assembly-line" justice that incarcerates, fines, convicts and forgets about them until they offend again.

Our current system is failing. Not only would these programs cost less than incarceration, they would more effectively encourage responsibility and compliance with the laws.

Nick Maybanks
Democratic Candidate for Johnson County Attorney
Coralville

If/when I hear from Janet Lyness, I'll pass that along too.