LEGICUUM

           Around 40 years ago under the influence of the amazing Mary Hart and the Unitarian Church of Rockville’s inspirational Bill Moors  I participated in LEGICUUM, Legislative Committee of Unitarian Universalists of Maryland. We worked with State officials, including Steny Hoyer, now House of Representatives Minority Whip, to educate the Maryland legislature. One US State Department retiree amassed arguments that investing in more intensive parole programs was far more cost effective than investing in prisons. His view was that the budget process was biased in favor of capital projects at the expense of programs. It was a lot easier to get funding for more risons than to invest in enhanced parole rograms.

            Recidivism and the demand for prison spaces could be cut and productive lives encouraged if the State of Maryland listened. This retiree, a member of the Cedar Lane church,  said he worked on ever so many issues as a senior US government  policy analyst with no sense that he could impact any of them He relished the opportunity to make a difference in his home State. One of my companions at Bethany Beach this week is a parole officer in Maryland who reports that parole programs may still be in the back seat.  

                Victimless crimes such as marijuana use and prostitution were also on LEGICUUM’s agenda. I attended a briefing on trafficking at the UN where a young woman lawyer pointed out that in the New York area those arranging unwilling participation were not prosecuted while those being victimized were. Reports that Attorney General Holder is preparing a list of those in prison under a three strikes law for marijuana offences for Presidential pardons is an encouraging step in the right direction.  The cost to New York taxpayers for each victimless crime incarceration is about $60,000 per year. The principle that those who want something should never have to pay for it sounds like socialism under the guise of “being tough on crime.”