Opinion
- Details
- Written by: Rebecca Curry
The Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act (NORA), Proposition 5 on the November ballot, will change the way the state treats nonviolent offenders.
It will implement reforms repeatedly recommended by experts over several decades and will finally address the role that addiction and mental illness play in driving our incarceration and recidivism rates.
Proposition 5 builds upon the successful drug treatment programs created by voter-approved Proposition 36 (November 2000).
California currently offers virtually no publicly funded substance abuse treatment options for youth under the age of 18. This tragic and short-sighted failure abandons young people to their drug problems, putting their safety, their physical and mental health, and their futures at risk. Families, too often, have nowhere to turn for help. NORA would fund the creation of a system of care for non-criminally involved young people with drug problems.
NORA commits about $65 million per year to drug treatment and other support programs for youth, funding the creation of a system of care for young people under the age of 18 where no system exists now. Additional money for youth treatment would come from fines paid for low-level marijuana possession offenses.
By expanding rehabilitation behind bars, providing more re-entry services to nonviolent offenders on parole and expanding access to treatment, instead of incarceration, for nonviolent low-level drug offenders, NORA would significantly reduce recidivism and support parolee reintegration into the community.
NORA expands the diversion of nonviolent offenders to addiction treatment. NORA provides rehabilitation programs to nonviolent prisoners and parolees, and prevents them from being returned to prison for minor violations. NORA motivates participants to complete treatment and rehabilitation through an appropriate mix of incentives, rewards, sanctions and consequences.
NORA creates a unified system of care and provides $385 million per year to pay for drug treatment and related costs. Nonviolent drug offenders would be placed in one of three different levels of care and supervision, based on their criminal history and drug problem severity. Participants who fail at the lower levels could be moved up to the more intensive levels, or could be jailed for noncompliance. Completing the prescribed course of treatment can lead to the participants' drug offense being dropped from his or her criminal record.
It provides for prison system and parole reforms. NORA makes rehabilitation a real priority for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, while limiting the use of prison beds to punish minor parole violations by nonviolent offenders. An independent oversight panel would have authority over major aspects of the implementation of NORA.
Because NORA would sharply limit the incarceration of nonviolent offenders, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office projects that the measure would save California $1 billion or more each year in prison and parole costs. Much of the annual savings would be used instead to pay for the measure's new treatment and rehabilitation programs. According to the Legislative Analyst's Office, the state would see additional net savings of $2.5 billion over several years as prison-construction costs would be reduced by NORA’s reforms.
Lake County Democrats and the Democratic Party of California urge a “yes” vote on Propostion 5.
In this time of budget crisis, California cannot afford to continue “churning” nonviolent
offenders without reducing recidivism. NORA would reallocate funding to make rehabilitation and drug treatment a priority.
The "Yes" campaign's Web site is www.prop5yes.com.
The Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act offers common-sense solutions to California's prison overcrowding crisis.
Rebecca Curry lives in Kelseyville.
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- Details
- Written by: James Evans
Barack had spent the whole day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday greeting fair patrons at the Democratic booth and posing for photo opportunities with them. The 6-foot, 1-inch cardboard cutout disappeared overnight on Saturday.
He is scheduled to appear with the Lake County Democrats at all of their functions before the election. He will be missed by his Democratic, Republican and Independent supporters. No ransom note has been received. The Secret Service declined to comment.
In an email response the chair of the Democratic Party of Lake County stated, “Clearly this despicable act is the work of those who are afraid. Afraid of the positive message of hope and change, the clarion call of this November's election. Our Democratic grassroots activists in Lake County can only feel sorrow and pity for people who would do such a petty mean-spirited thing. No supporter of Sen. Obama's would be so thoughtless and selfish as to deprive others of the joy and inspiration of seeing the senator out on the campaign trail here in Lake County. We hope the kidnappers will come to their senses, and we await his return.”
Barack can be returned with no questions asked by calling 274-8862, or emailing
James Evans lives in Clearlake Oaks.
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- Details
- Written by: James Henderson
Other than the bulk of my Marine Corps experience, dealing with Lake County government hiding malfeasance most definitely is one of those experiences to be missed.
Reality can be a disturbing prospect coming to the terms that all you believed about your government would be only rhetoric, a system serving their ends. There would be no grievance process in place, and using it's a " personnel matter" and can't talk about it so to give credence to justify all actions on their part. Sending complaints back to the same ones you are complaining about. The oath taken is only a procedure for employment and little heed is paid to it past that point.
I had faith but was unaware those I would meet would allow things to get out of hand. So my oddity would begin.
James Henderson lives in Lakeport.
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- Details
- Written by: Tami Ipsen
Over 70 volunteers and players came to support the Toys For Kids benefit providing toys at Christmas for unfortunate families in Lake County.
A tri-tip barbecue, donated by Congressman Mike Thompson, followed with a silent auction and raffle prizes. Congressman Mike Thompson’s wife Jan Thompson, thanked the volunteers and golfers for supporting the Toys For Kids. Jan recognized Tami Ipsen, on behalf of Congressman Mike Thompson and herself, for organizing the event with a beautiful hand-painted plate depicting Congressman Mike Thompson’s district.
Many local merchants and key sponsors supported this event and the Toys for Kids board members would like to thank, Crave, Hardester’s Market, Rahoutdoors, Twin Pines Casino, Wildhurst Vineyard, Steele Winery, Winzler and Kelly, Wagner and Bonsignore, CRWA, Gonsalves Family, Bob and Adele Curtain, Coyote Valley Construction, Mel and Connie Aust, Redwood Plumbing, Saw Shop Restaurant, Safeway and Ray's Food Place.
Over $6,000 was raised during this event! Thank you again to all who participated and volunteered!
Tami Ipsen is the administrative assistant at Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District.
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