Elections 2018: Ohio Issue 1 supporters and opponents

Lt. Mike Lewis from the Kent Police Department and Judge Becky Doherty explain Issue 1. 

As midterm elections near, tensions are running high regarding Ohio’s proposed Issue 1.

If passed, the issue will change the penalty  for a third, fourth, or fifth-degree drug possession felony of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and others into a misdemeanor.

The constitutional amendment could also allow current prisoners early release from their sentences by up to 25 percent if the prisoner is involved  in a prison program. This will not apply to offenders have convicted murder, rape or child molestation.

Supporters of this issue include democratic candidate Richard Cordray and libertarian candidate Travis Irvine.

Richard Cordray said he is in support of reforms that address serious criminal Justice problems in Ohio.

In a emailed statement, he says, “There are many avenues to solving this systemic problem, Issue 1 is one option, and Rich is open to any smart policy that sends drug traffickers and dealers to prison where they belong, while getting low-level drug addicted individuals the help they need.”

Public figures, Mark Zuckerberg and Ohio native, John Legend, have also expressed their support of the issue.

According to Cleveland.com, Legend noted Ohio as the fifth largest U.S. prison population, with about half of those imprisoned because nonviolent or probation offenses.  

He told the publication, “I care deeply about helping Ohio communities thrive. That’s why I urge you to join me in supporting Issue 1.”

Opponents include republican candidate Mike Dewine, many judges and law officials.

Many judges  are opposing this issue because if passed, Ohio drug courts will be directly affected.

According to the National Institute of Justice, Drug courts are specialized docket programs that target criminal defendants and offenders, juvenile offenders, and parents with pending welfare cases who have alcohol and other drug dependency problems.

Portage County Common Pleas court judge, Becky Doherty believes her drug courts have made notable progress. She says if Issue 1 passes, all the progress would end.

“What Issue 1 will do if it passes is effectively destroy the progress that we have made and provide less treatment rather than more,” Doherty said.

Doherty’s drug court has been active for about 16 months. She has seen two full graduations and says only four individuals have unsuccessfully completed the program.

“We really have made progress,” Doherty said. “I know that the general public probably doesn’t see the positive side of this opioid crisis but we do.”

Doherty said that without her drug court and the possibility of incarceration many individuals may not seek treatment.

“Quite frankly, I bet one percent of folks who are addicts would ever go into treatment voluntarily,” Doherty said.  “And if you ask, the treatment providers, they would have to admit that.”

She said has received multiple letters from individuals thanking her for sending them to jail because it saved them.

“I save peoples lives in the jail sometimes so that they can’t go out and use again,” Doherty said. “And the sad thing is,  the proponents of Issue 1 are looking at it as, ‘these are addicts, don’t incarcerate them.’ There is a benefit to incarceration  sometimes.”

Kent Police Department’s lieutenant Michael Lewis also agrees there is a benefit to incarceration.

“I do think it is dangerous by reducing these sentences by not putting these people into a prison system where they are going to be forced to dry up or forced to get the treatment that they need,” Lewis said.

Lewis also disagrees with supporters of the issue who feel this will fix the prison population.

“The overcrowding of the jails and prisons is certainly an issue but decriminalizing or reducing the severity of the offense is not necessarily the answer either,” Lewis said.

 

 

 

What is Issue 1? Find out before Election Day on November 6. Keep an eye out for my story with Faith Riggs on what you need to know about the controversial Issue. #jmcrpp

— Sharie Ellison (@sdeethicswksp) October 22, 2018

Issue 1 will appear on the Nov 6 ballot in Ohio. The Issue has stirred up a lot of controversies. Who is for it? Who’s against it?

Find out everything you need to know in my upcoming story with Sharie Ellison.

— Faith Riggs (@faith_riggs) October 23, 2018

Video by Sharie Ellison

Words and graphic by Faith Riggs