Bringing Guantanamo Bay Home

Last night Rachel Maddow interviewed former Guantanamo Bay prosecutor Lt. Col. Darrel Vandeveld in his first American television appearance. Vandeveld is the fourth prosecutor to resign his commission in protest to the conditions and methods used in pursuing "justice" against purported terrorists held in the Cuban prison. The evidence against many of his clients was shoddy, extracted by cruel, inhuman and degrading methods, and assembled in an unprofessional manner. As a career prosecutor, Lt. Col. Vandeveld ended up testifying on behalf of the defense in one of his own cases! His interview is serious, conscientious, and condemning of the treatment and prosecutorial methods. It's hard to watch, but do.

And then consider this: As the budget deficits increase around the country, 43 states are currently in deficit, we need to focus our attention on what is happening in our local jails and prisons. Cost cutting impacts the lives of the men and women held in custody as well as the working conditions of the men and women who work as correctional officers. In New York, we must, absolutely must, get rid of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, which unfairly incarcerate too many young people, especially young people of color, for possession of small amounts of drugs. We need recovery not incarceration. Read The Nation's January 23, 2009 article responding to Gov. David Paterson's apparent retreat from his once strong commitment to reform.

Every time a young person is jailed because of drug and alcohol problems, we engage in intentionally turning depression, hopelessness, and fear, signs of dependency, into criminality that will last a lifetime.