Bernalillo County DA Jeff Romero's Summary Position

"Our governor is the 'poster child' of certain special interest groups whose goal is to endorse the legalization of drugs in the United States. These groups are well-financed, they're articulate, but sadly, what they do is they spread a lot of misinformation and half-truths in an effort to promote their goals... Now is the time to hear the rest of the story."

[images: CBS TV]

There are several fallacies that I first want to address that are being perpetuated by the governor. The first fallacy is that this is a 'War.' This is not a war. A war has a definite beginning, it has a definite ending, we mobilize all our troups to accomplish a certain goal.

COMMENTARY: We would like to ask Mr. Romero if his definition of WAR includes the military action in Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. How about the War on Poverty?

The second fallacy is that we are not making any progress. The truth is that within the last twenty years, we have reduced the amount of drug use in this country by 50%. In Albuquerque alone, through hard-nosed policies, both prosecution and law enforcement, and the many efforts of communities to turn their communities around, we have reduced the number of drug trafficing cases coming through the District Attorney's office by about 25%.

COMMENTARY: It is true that drug use dropped about 50% in the last twenty years, but the reductions occurred in the 80s not the 90s. Further, a reduction in the number of cases in the DA's office does not imply success. This could mean that police are not making as many arrests. It could mean drug dealers and users are better at alluding the police today. The truth is that national statistics show illicit drug use slightly higher in 1997 (last year of available statistics) than in 1990. Is this how Romero defines 'progress?'

The third fallacy that I'd like to dispel is that we have 1.6 million people behind bars every year just for using drugs in the privacy of their own homes. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have about 1.3% of all prisoners, both federal and in all the states, who are doing any time whatsoever for mere possession charges. [latest figures from California dispute Romero's claim]

In New Mexico, I am not aware of anybody who is in jail just for possession charges. Nothing could be further from the truth.

COMMENTARY: As the author and co-author of a number of reports on crime, sentencing and prisons in New Mexico, I ask Romero to double check his figures. In 1996, New Mexico incarcerated 2.5% of the current prison population for drug possession. This equaled 100 inmates. In 1997, the percentage increased to 3.1%. The state incarcerated 140 of the total 4,500 inmates on the charge of drug possession. It appeasr that Mr. Romero's statements are far from the truth.

The fourth fallacy I want to address is the governor's continued referal to the Netherlands as a state where drugs have been legalized and everything is working out. What the governor fails to tell you is that, in the Netherlands, drug addictions are up, both for soft drugs and hard drugs like heroin. Crime is up. It has increased by 160% since marijuana has been decriminalized. It has become the drug capital of Europe.

There are three things that are going to happen if drugs are legalized: Number One -- addictions are going to go up; Number Two -- crime is going to go up; and Number Three -- we are going to have to allocate more, not less, to law enforcement.

Johnson's summary remarks