Corrections & Drug Abuse Problems Plague Wyoming
 Bill
Sniffin looks at Wyoming's present prison and jail situation
and finds the problem almost overwhelming. Of all the painful
things the people of Wyoming will be going through in the
next ten years -- dealing with our prison population -- and
all the alcohol and drug abuse situations will be the most
painful. Bill Sniffin dreads the agony that is being experienced
by Wyoming individuals and families.
He doesn't see any magic solution, but does want the voters
of Wyoming to know about his base philosophies:
Law and order - Bill Sniffin feels that laws are
to be obeyed and persons who violate the law should be prosecuted
to the fullest extent of the law. Wyoming people are good
people and they deserve to be safe.
Corrections - There is a need for a new prison and
it should be built soon. Bill feels there are smart people
in Wyoming who can figure out how to do this. As a proponent
of public-private partnerships, he sees such a partnership
as a way to get this job done. He also envisions the concept
of a public-public partnership where perhaps the state and
a county would work together to build the new prison, since
some cities and towns see a prison as local economic development.
Drug and alcohol abuse - Bill feels that too many
people in Wyoming have been "warehoused" at the
state prison and in our jails without adequate treatment for
their alcohol and drug dependency. Most professionals have
accepted as fact that a large number of addicts are actually
suffering a disease of the brain, he says. This "disease
concept" is still very controversial among laymen, but
is pretty well accepted among professionals.
What this means is that you can warehouse someone but as soon
as you let them out, they will start committing crimes immediately
to support their bad habits.
Sniffin has praise for the efforts of present Governor Jim
Geringer to deal with drug addiction statewide and especially
for his initiatives in combating Meth addiction. He also supports
efforts to create drug courts.
If elected governor, Sniffin would probably want to go even
farther. "These inmates are our citizens, too,"
he says. "Many of them are sick people. Before we can
turn them loose on the rest of our wonderful Wyoming society,
we have to treat them for their illnesses."
The people of Wyoming deserve to be protected from these people.
Without treatment the cycle will just continue and probably
get worse, he says.
Young people - Bill Sniffin has a special place in
his heart for the teenagers who have become addicted. "These
folks have the toughest time getting back on track,"
he says. When young people start using drugs at a young age,
they are still not mature, fully-formed adults. Because of
that, they wander along, aimlessly, often without any moral
compass to guide them.
The pain and damage they cause to families in Wyoming is huge
and is not told often enough.
He says that any family that is lucky enough to escape such
behavior from its family members should say a prayer of thanks.
For those who are suffering, he extends his best wishes and
fondest hopes that treatment is on the way.
If elected governor, these families will have the best friend
they have ever had in Bill Sniffin.
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Authorized by William C. Sniffin
Contributions or gifts to Bill Sniffin for Governor 2002 are
not tax-deductible.
Bill Sniffin for Governor - P.O. Box 900 Lander, WY 82520
(307) 332-3111, ext. 17
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