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Show i ',7 4 L i '; - 11 Victimless Crimes &4 - an opinion The incidence of crime in our and our jailers should continue to bear the responsibility of coping society has been skyrocketing -- especially in American cities. And because we are all potential victims, our feeling of fear is developing concurrently. Coupled with our increased fear is the feeling of helplessness in that our police do not seem to be able to prevent crime nor are they apprehending all known criminals. Furthermore, our courts are too clogged with cases and our jails are too crowded. Very few people today think of prisons as places where criminals are rehabilitated. In view of this situation, it is not surprising to learn that all our legislatures are faced with demands to allocate huge sums of money for more manpower and bigger facilities to control crime. However, there is general. growing faith in an alternative Organized crime feeds on answer to our enormous problem. profits from providing goods and The alternative suggests a new services that although illegal are approach to VICTIMLESS CRIMES. desired and in demand. Victimless crime is crime based The laws we have now in regard on moral codes in which there is no to victimless crimes actually cause victim other than the person who crimes which victimize us. For commits the crime. Whatever harm instance: take the case of the addict occurs is to the offender himself and the ban on drugs and the addict's not to society. Common examples inability to obtain them cheaply are drunkeness, drug addiction, cause him to commit crime. Did you prostitution, vagrancy and gambling. know that more than one-hal- f the Our police, our courts and our jails crime committed in some major U. now spend a great deal of time S. cities is traceable to addicts dealing with these acts. seeking money to pay for drugs? this to People sympathetic Laws relating to crimes without diagnosis of our problem feel that victims should be removed from the our criminal justice system is so criminal codes. The offenders should preoccupied with these socially receive therapeutic help from health disapproved acts that it is prevented or social service agencies. from dealing effectively with real Change can occur in three easy is: that crime, murder, rape, ways: our legislators can repeal etc. robbery, statutes, ourcourts will find many of Here are the facts: these laws unconstitutional if they 1. One-hal- f of all arrests by the are tested, and police policy are crime of victimless police regarding who is arrested can be offenders. affected by administrative decisions. in all 2. One-hal- f of the people It is probably safe to assume jail are charged with or have been however, that neither the legislators, found guilty of victimless crime. the judges, nor the police 3. One-thirof all arrests are for administrators will act to change the drunkenness. laws in regard to crimes without So the important question victims unless the majority of the with which we should be concerend public want the laws eliminated and is whether our policemen, our judges work to have them repealed. Roger Freund serves as consultant for Senior Citizen program. Programs For Senior Citizens -- by Jerry Carter The County Council on Aging is which delivers daily hot lunches to made up of 27 volunteers appointed some 200 senior citizens; Friendly by the County Commission. The purpose of the Council is to plan new and to coordinate Neighborhood Center, which conducts daily activities and and lunches; Friendly Visitors, which evaluate all community services recruits, trains and dispatches directed specifically at senior volunteers to make regular visits to citizens. These residents number shut-ins- ; Senior Citizen's in Salt Lake Development Project, which approximately 42,000 county, which comprises about 9 employs 35 older women to do of the population. All 14 sewing for the welfare shop of municapalities in Salt Lake county Family Services; the Independent are represented. Living Project, which is bringing Mrs. Mary Hansen is currently protective services to those who are the president and Fred Keefer is threatened by the prospect of having Council director succeeding Roger to enter nursing or hospital care. Freund who moved into the role of The Council also publishes and consultant. distributes, free of charge, a Ongoing services administered directory of services entitled by the Council and funded by the "C.U.E." The title means Continued County include: a senior citizen Usefulness for Everyone. Model Cities funds helped program at Northwest Adult Nutrition Center; program, establish the Senior Citizen which serves lunch and educational Nutrition program at the junior high activities to senior citizens at schools and enabled the Council to Lincoln Jr. High, Jordan Jr. High and complete a survey of senior citizens Glendale Jr. High; Meals on Wheels, in the area. programs, Multi-purpos- with these offenders. How well do you feel that our present system handles problems like alcoholism or drug addiction? It doesn't! As taxpayers, we are spending billions of dollars for a system that isn't working! There are other undesirable effects of dealing with the victimless crime offenders with criminal penalties. These offenders come out of prison embittered, unemployed, estranged from their families, and too often criminalized. Alcoholics return to drinking, addicts to using drugs, and gamblers to betting. Since the laws relating to these crimes are disregarded, there is a diminished respect for laws in d e QOOOQOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO salt lake mods! neighborhood news volume one The Model NEIGHBORHOOD You can get into a financial bind if... Publication of the Model Neigh-Newis a publication of the Salt borhood News is made possible ' Lake Model Cities Agency under the through a grant from the of the Joint Board of ment of Housing and Urban Devel-Citand County Commissioners opment. with editorial offices located at 1 19 East 21st South, Bldg. 5, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. Marlene Marie Young, Editor Jim Phillips, Circulation Jerry Carter, Staff Reporter and Photographer Kirk Terry, Staff Reporter Donetta Fluker, Editorial Assistant Joint Board of Commissioners Conrad Harrison Ralph r. McClure, Chairman Jennings Phillips Phillip R. Blomquist E. Dunn William Stephen Harmsen You have less than $200 in cash assets. You have installment payment s Depart-supervisio- n y T5 0 debts which require more than 12 months to repay. You have more than 20 percent of your take-hom- e pay committed to installment debt payments. You skip installment debt payments occasionally to leave enough money to live on. You have to take out new loans to pay off old ones. You have to take out a loan to meet daily routine living expenses such as rent, utility bills or grocery bills. You get behind in your rent and utility payments. You do not know how much your living expenses really are. You move frequently. You do not understand how |