From: [C upi] at [clari.net] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.local.michigan,clari.news.alcohol+drugs
Subject: Critics want to reform drug lifer laws
Keywords: social issues, substance abuse, legal, illegal drugs
Organization: Copyright 1996 by United Press International
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 6:20:19 PDT
                                         
        LANSING, Mich., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Critics of Michigan's drug lifer laws  
said Thursday that the recent release of a man sentenced to life in 
prison for a drug offense could open the door for others. 
        Last week a judge overturned the conviction of Gary Fannon, 27, of  
Westland, Mich. ruling a police officer entrapped Fannon. Fannon was 
convicted as a teenager for delivering more than 650 grams of cocaine in 
a 1987 drug deal. Critics are hoping his release will draw attention to 
the harshness of Michigan law. 
        A national group, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), has  
been working since February to have penalities reduced for nonviolent 
drug offenders. 
        ``I'm outraged that murders and rapists receive less severe  
penalities than these people who have committed nonviolent crimes,'' 
said Gerald Newman, FAMM's project director in Michigan. 
        Under Michigan law, anyone -- even first-time offenders -- who are  
convicted of delivering more than 650 grams of cocaine or heroin is 
sentenced to life in prison without parole. There are currently 228 
Michigan inmates serving life in prison for drug convictions. 
        The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled parole is possible in some cases  
and some cases are expected to come before parole boards next year. 
        Newman said mandatory minimums are unfair because judges are not  
given discretion in deciding sentences. 
        But lawmen, like Dearborn, Mich. police chief Ron Deziel, believe the  
sentence is appropriate because it helps to deter drug dealers. 
        ``People who deal drugs should be dealt with in the most severe sense  
and in this case, that means life in prison,'' Deziel told the Detroit 
News. 
        ``Before these laws were established, courts were handing out  
wholesale probation,'' Deziel said. ``It became common knowlege in the 
drug community and we saw a significant increase in drug trafficking. 
        ``The Legislature has given fair warning that if you deal in certain  
quantities of drugs you will be sentenced to life,'' Deziel said.