Letters.

Police State

Has the U.S. become a police state? Has this status crept up on us by accretion as overzealous politicians have played on fears of crime to get votes?

As you read this, consider that tonight 1.8 million Americans will sleep in a federal, state or local prison or jail. Consider also that about 4.1 million Americans are on parole or probation. Thus, a total of 5.9 million adult Americans will sleep tonight in the U.S. under police supervision, 2.2 percent of the total population or about three percent of the adult population (three of every 100 adult persons).

Not only is the dollar tax cost of imprisonment and supervision gigantic, but such a police state taxes democracy and civil liberties.

Should we not revisit the entire legal structure of criminal laws, most of which have been enacted in the past 30 years? Should we not consider returning many civil violations which became criminal laws to civil infractions? Should we not consider a drastic reform of America's drug laws that are proven failures and create more crimes and criminals and do not stop the use of or the trafficking in illegal drugs -- notably marijuana, cocaine and heroin?

If we take no steps now to explore criminal justice reform, what is the critical mass to cause us to face the fact that in any small crowd of people there are criminals or former criminals? Is it five percent? Ten percent? Twenty percent?

Can we have a society based on personal freedom when so many citizens have none?

Richard N. Friedman Miami

Philosophical Divide

As a member of both the New York and Florida Bars I have enjoyed keeping up on the legal profession in both states. In my opinion, the twice-monthly Florida Bar News far outshines the New York Bar Association bi-monthly news.

In the August 15 issue, however, under the guise of chronicling a philosophical divide in the Florida Legislature, Lois Frankel was given the opportunity to not only present her opinion but also to vent her distaste for any and all persons or proposals which do not fit her "progressive" agenda.

Not only did the content of the article offend me personally, but the masquerade of presenting pure opinion in the form of a chronicle was insulting to me as a person whose faith leads me to believe in all life and support pro life. Nor am I a member of the "radical right," whatever that is supposed to be.

For more than 30 years, I have practiced law and felt proud of our profession. The Frankel...