9/23/2002
The Noelle Bush case is being treated with a delicacy seldom seen in Sunshine State politics. But in a state with harsh minimum mandatory sentences for drug arrests, lack of drug treatment programs, cutbacks in drug-treatment funding and the governor's disparagement of any drug policy other than harsher sentences the hypocrisy of the situation is getting too gross to ignore.
Arianna Huffington is one the few willing to take this one. I'd link to Clarence Page, too, but for Chicago Trib's annoying registration policy. There's a good Salon piece, "Noelle Bush gets rehab, the poor and black get hard time" that talks about this as a hook for discussing the movement for saner antidrug laws.
The 911 tape of the initial complaint has been widely reprinted and raises serious questions about special treatment in a state known for its lack of drug treatment alternatives and its punitive approach to drug abuse. And what was she even doing a facility for drug abusers with kids? And of course the court hearing is held in secret.
It's hard to deny this is glaring example of the different kinds of justice rich and poor get when drugs are involved.
Arianna Huffington is one the few willing to take this one. I'd link to Clarence Page, too, but for Chicago Trib's annoying registration policy. There's a good Salon piece, "Noelle Bush gets rehab, the poor and black get hard time" that talks about this as a hook for discussing the movement for saner antidrug laws.
The 911 tape of the initial complaint has been widely reprinted and raises serious questions about special treatment in a state known for its lack of drug treatment alternatives and its punitive approach to drug abuse. And what was she even doing a facility for drug abusers with kids? And of course the court hearing is held in secret.
It's hard to deny this is glaring example of the different kinds of justice rich and poor get when drugs are involved.
