Title:
Ask your legislators to reduce the deficit by reforming South Carolina's marijuana laws
Message:
Several major newspapers have reported recently on South Carolina's prison overcrowding crisis. Government officials are considering everything from emergency funding measures to releasing hundreds of inmates. According to the Greenville News, South Carolina's prison system now is nearly 1,000 inmates over capacity.
Incarcerating nonviolent marijuana offenders is a costly policy. Ending the prosecution of nonviolent marijuana offenses and releasing nonviolent offenders would reduce South Carolina's prison expenses. For every offender not prosecuted, the state would save on court costs and police time. For every nonviolent prisoner released, the state would save $20,000-$25,000 per year on prison costs.
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Reforming South Carolina's draconian marijuana laws would be a logical first step in saving money and ensuring that nonviolent offenders—not murderers and rapists—are released from jail. Under current law, a single possession offense of less than one ounce of marijuana is punishable by up to 30 days in jail. Subsequent offenses are punishable by up to one year in jail. Possession of more than one ounce is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Clearly, nonviolent marijuana crimes contribute to the current prison crowding problems and the expense of incarcerating these nonviolent offenders has contributed to the $23 million shortfall.
Please pass this message on to others so that more voices can call out for reform.
