October 10, 2018 To All Ohioans,
As the group that represents the majority of law enforcement executives in the State of Ohio, the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) would like to urge our fellow Ohioans to VOTE NO in November on Issue One.
Although proponents claim that this amendment will promote “neighborhood safety” we would argue that is not true. As professionals who deal with these issues daily we believe Issue One will have a devastating effect on our efforts to curb the trafficking of drugs in our state and will also hinder efforts by our drug courts to provide treatment alternatives for addicts.
These are the facts about how Issue One could affect Ohioans:
1. It will undermine treatment efforts
Issue One will remove the possibility of incarceration from the tool belt of the courts. Without this incentive our drug courts will be handicapped and addicts will be less likely to get needed treatment.
2. It will hinder the prosecution of drug traffickers
The proposed amendment could limit the ability of law enforcement to prosecute individuals who are deliberately dealing in small amounts of drugs, allowing them to assert simple possession as a defense. Also, by removing the judgment of the courts to determine sentencing the amendment prescribes a “one size fits all” approach to a complex problem. This will result in misdemeanor charges for many drug traffickers. In addition, convicted drug traffickers will be eligible for a 25% sentence reduction.
3. It will reduce sentences for violent offenders
Issue One will result in reduced sentences for violent and non-violent offenders alike. Those convicted on human trafficking, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, aggravated arson, kidnapping, felonious assault, and other violent crimes will be eligible to have their sentences reduced by as much as 25%!
4. Issue One overburdens local governments
Issue One will shift financial responsibility for holding criminals accountable from the state to local governments. Also, after the initial target population of drug possession offenders is out of prison, there will be no cost savings for the State. Local governments, however, will take on the burden for the costs of treatment, probation, and jail. California, which adopted a similar amendment to their constitution in 2014 has realized only a small fraction of the savings they projected.
5. Issue One is shortsighted
Issue One sends the wrong message to young Ohioans about the seriousness of drug abuse and addiction. The amendment, while intended to target the opiate crisis, also makes possession of drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, cocaine, fentanyl, and carfentanyl misdemeanor offenses. It places these drugs on par with marijuana. In fact, Issue One would make possession of anything up to 19 grams of fentanyl a misdemeanor. This amount of fentanyl could kill 10,000 people!! A conviction for possession of this amount of fentanyl could also only result in probation!
Please Vote NO on Issue One!!
Chief Jeffrey Scott, CLEE Notre Dame College PD 2018-2019 OACP President
614-761-0330 • www.oacp.org oacp@oacp.org