(Cleveland) - Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge David Matia participated in a debate as part of The City Club’s Ohio Ballot Beat program.
The forum was called “Issue 1: To Reduce Penalties for Crimes of Obtaining, Possessing, and Using Illegal Drugs.”
Stephen JohnsonGrove, the deputy director for policy at the Ohio Justice and Policy Center spoke in favor of Issue One, with Judge Matia opposed.
If approved by voters, State Issue 1 would make offenses related to drug possession no more than misdemeanors; prohibit courts from ordering persons on probation for felonies be sent to prison for non-criminal probation violations; create a sentence credits program for inmates' participation in rehabilitative, work, or educational programs; and require the state to spend savings due to a reduction of inmates, resulting from Issue 1, on drug treatment, crime victim, and rehabilitation programs.
(Photo by Ken Robinson/WTAM)
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