Two years ago, prior to the current Obama Administration moves to clean federal prisons of non violent drug offenders (which I support) my state changed public policy in that regard. Disclaimer, I have been a political appointee of the Republican governor who proposed and a legislature dominated by Republicans approved, a complete overhaul of our sentencing laws for non violent substance abuse offenders. This fiscal conservative Governor did not want to spend $300 million on more prison cells to relieve overcrowding. We are a small state and it made no sense to perpetuate 1980's public policy on drug violations sentencing. Non violent offenders will be sent to rehab centers for treatment rather than be locked-up. Offenders get two chances to avoid prison by staying clean. This is what the Republican party I was raised in does at the state level. We are not dominated by the right wing fringe and it shows.
