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Blue Bag Media
Welfare fraud,
heroin abuse… unproductive citizens a burden on society
GREENVILLE – You have to instill an attitude where you know you are
responsible for yourself. You have to have a support system behind
them. And there has to be a shift in social attitude… commit the crime,
pay the price? “You’ve done your time. Done your probation. But the
societal attitude is still there,” said Darke County Common Pleas Judge
Jonathan Hein.
Hein and his Chief Probation officer James Mollette took time out of
their schedules to take a look at the crimes – and criminals – they
deal with on a daily basis.
In excess of 50 percent – possibly as high as 67 percent – of the
crimes committed in Darke County are in some way related to substance
abuse. This could be prescription drug abuse, alcohol or illegal drugs.
A Greenville source says that number is probably closer to 75 percent
in the city. While offenders don’t usually see ‘time’ for possession of
marijuana (it’s a misdemeanor in Ohio), robberies, thefts and breaking
and entering are often committed in order to obtain those substances.
Mollette takes it one step further. “When we start working with someone
(in probation) on a crime that’s totally unrelated, we often discover
there’s a drug or alcohol issue involved.” Mollette added he was not a
fan of legal marijuana, which has been a topic of discussion in a
number of states, including Ohio. “I still believe it’s a gateway drug…
I started seeing that early on (in my career).” He added there is one
unique aspect… today they are also seeing heroin addicts who started
with prescription drugs and alcohol...
Read the rest of the article at Blue Bag Media
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