PORTLAND, Ore. -- A growing number of people in law enforcement say it's time for a new tactic in fighting the war on drugs: lighter sentences for those arrested for drug possession.
For decades, they have faced felony charges, and critics said that approach doesn't work.
"We know that the drug war has been a failure, and that resources have been spent criminalizing people, instead of investing in things like treatment for drug addiction," said Kimberly McCullough of American Civil Liberties Union Oregon.
Now, the Oregon Sheriff's Association and the Oregon Police Chiefs agree that a new strategy is in order.
They say reducing charges from felonies to misdemeanors for drug possession will free up resources for law enforcement to attack violent crimes and property crimes. They also advocate diverting more money for drug treatment.
Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill says this is the way to go, and he's ready to take his county even further, to keep those arrested for drug possession completely out of the court and incarceration system. Some of them won't even be booked; they'll instead be sent to a case worker, who will steer the person toward treatment.
Underhill said it's a whole new approach, one that is modeled after a Seattle program that began in 2011.
"Let's back this up," said Underhill. "Let's work with the folks that we're talking about. Let's help them with their addiction and collateral impacts."
The Multnomah County program is called "LEAD" and is targeted for a Jan. 1, 2017 start. In addition to the cost savings to the court and jail systems, freeing up more money for treatment, the approach also helps reduce the impact of the felony drug possession arrests on minority communities, which research shows are hit hardest by the current system.