Victimless crimes involving drugs.

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

 How much money would be saved if, as Ron suggested, police in Somerville (or MA) stopped pursuing victimless crimes involving drugs? Does anyone know if  such a proposal is being discussed seriously anywhere? Excuse my ignorance...

Comments

[ron_newman]

No, as that would endanger public fire safety (and therefore violate residential zoning).

[derekp.livejournal.com]

So where do we draw the "endangering public safety" line then? If the newly emboldened drug dealers of Somerville choose to call the front stoop of your apartment complex or the corner of your block home base for their operations, does it not stand to reason that a public safety hazard would ultimately result?

I'm not a fan of the "war on drugs" in this country, but I think it's naive to think that a single city could do anything on its own to change the culture around drug sales and use. If Somerville chooses to look the other way on drug crimes in order to fully staff the Library, drug dealers wouldn't all of a sudden chose to incorporate, wear a shirt and tie to work, and arm themselves with lawyers instead of guns. There are still state and federal laws at play. Hell, state and federal funding would be pulled quicker than you could spend any budget surplus that developed from not pursuing drug crimes.

Haven't you seen what happened when they did this on The Wire ;) ?