Don’t jail addicts. Overdose prevention sites work, and the US needs to get on board
Today, 200 Americans likely will die from a drug overdose. Most of them will die alone.
The government’s modern-day response to our nation’s overdose epidemic has been woefully inadequate. Rather than relying on medical science, our leaders have been influenced by the same misguided approaches that undergirded the “war on drugs” in the 1980s — fear, stigma and racism.
We need a smarter strategy that reduces harm and saves lives. This starts with prosecutors ending the criminal crackdown on drug users — pushing for treatment instead of pressing charges; encouraging law enforcement to change street approaches; and, most of all,…
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Dan Satterberg
4 weeks ago
It's time for prosecutors in our country to rethink the traditional role of the prosecutor and look at new ways we can partner with defense attorneys, community leaders, and service providers in our regions to make our communities safer.
I recently co-authored a memo with Ronald Wright, a law professor at Wake Forest University, that outlined specific strategies we should put into practice to transform the criminal justice system.
You can read the full report here: thecrimereport.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IIP-Community_Trust-paper.pdf ... See MoreSee Less
Memo to the Nation’s Newest Prosecutors: Restore Your Community’s Trust
thecrimereport.org
Only a major overhaul of prosecutors’ traditional practices can remove the long-festering distrust and racism that have alienated many American from the justice system and created a “public safety...Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google PlusShare on Linked InShare by Email
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Nice work Dan Satterberg! I enjoyed the read.
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Dan SatterbergFollow2311,647
I'll be your prosecutor and so much more!
I appreciate the retweet by one of the true icons of criminal justice ethics @JTravis48 Our profession has much work to do to build community trust, but also many great new DA’s in America who aspire to do just that.
Gun violence is highly concentrated among young people and communities of color. Data helps us identify where to focus community-led intervention efforts to prevent more violence. We have much work ahead.