Growing Numbers of Law Enforcement Officials Denounce Drug War as a Public Policy Failure

Interview with Jack Cole, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

Increasingly, the United States' so-called war on drugs is being recognized as a stunning failure of public policy. Laws which criminalize substance abuse are a major factor in America's high rate of incarceration where more than 2 million of its citizens languish behind bars, a majority of them non-violent offenders. While there are many critiques of the drug war, one of the most powerful comes from those who work or have worked in the ranks of law enforcement.

Jack Cole is a 26-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police. For 12 of those years, Cole worked as an undercover narcotics officer. During his career, he investigated street drug use, mid-level narcotics dealers and international

"billion-dollar " drug trafficking organizations. After retiring, Cole says he began dealing with the emotional fallout resulting from his participation in the drug war by working to reform current drug laws. Last year, Cole, along with five others, founded LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, which now has more than 400 members nationwide, including current and former police officers, judges and elected officials.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Cole at a recent conference on wrongful convictions in New Haven, Connecticut, where he was the featured speaker. He explained how the drug war has corrupted police officials and discussed the four main goals of his organization.

Contact LEAP by calling (781) 393-6985 or visit their website at www.leap.cc

Related links:

The Narco News Bulletin, www.narconews.com

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

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