Q&A: Probation and Parole

[2242bzo]

Legalize all natural growing drugs. Do away with most laws, jails, prisons, police, judges, probation officers. This shit all costs tons of money, and it's all so not necessary. We are losing our humanity. And this bitch is making me fucking sick to my stomach. Her life is just wonderful, with our tax dollars, of course.

[legallysuzy]

drug use ruins lives, whether you are a violent drug offender or not. As an officer you take an Oath to uphold the Constitution of the US and of the State, you also swear/affirm to protect the community. Some of us take that charge very seriously. You are entitled to say and feel what you choose, the Constitution I protect GIVES you that right. Drugs lead to two places prisons or graveyards...I will be the hurdle to everyone I supervise meeting those ends and that will include searching them.

[Rhayader27510]

Wow, your intellectual bankruptcy is stunning.

Drug use ruins far, far fewer lives than prohibition. It's not even close. Unless you're prepared to defend a return to alcohol prohibition -- a policy which clearly did more harm than good -- you have absolutely no logical backing.

So: do you propose a return to alcohol prohibition?

[legallysuzy]

There is no contradiction. If you are a law abiding citizen you have nothing to fear of the new legislation. If you are involved in CRIMINAL activity, then searches are a necessity if you are being supervised. Probationers have a right to advise the court they do not want to be subject to probation and can pull their time instead. (By the way there are searches in prison too). As to your quoting of the 4th Amendment...my probable cause is a guilty conviction;

[Rhayader27510]

Ahh, the old "if you're not doing anything wrong you've got nothing to hide" crap. Our Constitution was not designed to provide fair-weather assurance. It's there to protect due process in cases where it's tempting to bypass those protections.

The Constitution is meaningless if it's not upheld in controversial situations.

[legallysuzy]

These measures have been taken to promote the safety of the officers supervising CRIMINALS. I take issue with the idea of letting non-violent drug offenders off the hook. The drug trade, users, abusers and dealers are the cornerstone of the violence officers see in the community. I do not have any desire to infridge on anyone's rights, but your rights stop where my rights to my personal safety begin.

I do agree that moore Chiefs is not an answer, we need officers that are dedicated to the job

[Rhayader27510]

The drug trade certainly is a cornerstone of violence -- because it has been forced underground.

Consider alcohol; no matter what problems we have with it, here's what we don't have: gangs, turf wars, clandestine manufacturers, sales to minors, disputes being settled with guns. It's all because the market is legitimate. Almost all of the "drug-related" crime we hear so much about is a result of the black market caused by prohibition, not the pharmacological properties of any substance.

[24klc67]

Bill of Rights-Amendment 4 "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." I must ask, since when does a non-violent drug offender violate your personal safety? CONT.....

[24klc67]

It is clearly obvious that you contradicted yourself. You don't want to infringe on anyone's rights, but you have no problem infringing on them when it suits your purpose. You can't have it both ways. Like I said earlier, where is the ACLU? Instead of trying to take GOD out of America, they should be looking out for the civil liberties of the American citizens.

[3feetofheat]

Someone needs to inform the Governor that Probation Supervisors do not supervise criminal offenders on probation. Probation officers are responsible for that. Probation supervisors are responsible for supervising STAFF assigned to their unit. Creating more middle management will do nothing to assist the officer on the ground, reduce crime, promote public safety, let alone reduce an officers caseload. New spin, same result...too many chiefs and not enough indians!

[24klc67]

Governor Beverly Perdue is in direct violation of the 5th amendment of the United States Constitution. Warrant-less searches???? I agree with you Rhayader27510, stop arresting non-violent drug offenders. Where is the ACLU when you need them??????

[24klc67]

I have to correct myself. It's not the 5th amendment our Governor is in violation of, it's the 4th amendment. Sorry about the mix-up.

[Rhayader27510]

Governor Perdue is touting these egregious civil rights encroachments as improvements in the parole system?  Open juvenile records? A shallower warrant processing system? Warrant-less searches??? How exactly are these measures meant to alleviate the bandwidth problems identified in the question? What a shameful flouting of constitutional civil rights.

Want a real suggestion for lessening the case load for these officers? Stop arresting non-violent drug offenders and sending them to jail.