Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 October 2005 — Page 4

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2005

State’s methamphel'amme initiatives showing results

Special to the Recorder

Indiana’s initiatives to combat methamphetamine production and abuse - including the state’s new law that restricts the sale of cold medicine containing commonly used meth ingredients, increased enforcement, and attention to the drug-testing backlog - are beginning to show results, according to the office of Gov. Mitch Daniels. Since March, when Daniels announced his first meth initiatives:

• Drug lab seizures have decreased dramatically. For example, between July and September, compared to the same three months in 2004, the number of meth labs seized by Indiana State Police declined 32 percent (243 to 166). In September, 53 labs were seized, compared to 90 a year ago, a 41 percent reduction. • The drug-testing backlog at the Indiana State Police forensics lab has been cut by nearly half. The backlog was 8,413 in February; it has been reduced to 4,404 as of

September. • The first 22 inmates were to complete the Department of Correction Clean Living is Freedom Forever (CLIFF) meth rehab program this week. • The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, in conjunction with the Meth Free Indiana Coalition and other partners, was set to launch Indiana’s participation in the national Meth Watch Program this week. The governor also announced he

will host leaders from 13 states in December for the first Midwestern Governors Association Regional Meth Summit. Governors, agency heads and policy leaders will be invited to the Dec. 13-15 event in Indianapolis that is being coordinated with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) will coordinate the event locally. Gov. Daniels will lead a roundtable discussion focused on meth initiatives implemented by

various states, and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director John Walters has been invited to give the conference introduction. “The governor’s meth strategy is producing measurable results for Indiana, and this summit will be a great opportunity for us to share the progress we are making,” said Heather Bolejack, CJI executive director.

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DISSOLVE ► Continued from Page 1 While Wright says it will “require a real battle” to keep the Consent Decrees in place, he’s optimistic that local and national organizations will help in the efforts. “In the early ‘80s the Reagan administration tried to dissolve the Consent Decrees, but the NAACP and the National Urban League filed an amicus brief to prevent that from happening. That’s why I think the fight will be fought.” Next Steps The Justice Department is asking for a judge to be assigned to the case, have the case reopened, dismiss the case and dissolve the Consent Decrees. If the city doesn’t want the case reopened and the Consent Decrees dissolved, it has to pursue legal action. At Recorder press time, the city was preparing to file legal papers in opposition of the dissolution of the decree. If the Justice Department prevails, the court will enter an order to dissolve the Consent Decrees. If not, the Consent Decrees will continue to stay in place. Thomas H. Miller, 8th district vice president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, is optimistic about the city’s chance of maintaining the Consent Decrees. “What the Consent Decree has been able to do for the Indianapolis Fire Department in the last 27 years has been nothing short of great. The city has a good chance ofkeeping it. If, however, the decree is struck down, I would think that given the history, this administration and succeeding administrations would keep those policies in place that came about as a result of the Consent Decrees.”

REPORTER WANTED The Indianapolis Recorder is currently accepting resumes for a full-time writing position. Potential candidates must have strong written and oral communication skills, effectively adhere to deadlines, and the ability to multitask. Applicants should have a college degree or its equivalent. Interested individuals can send resumes, salary requirements and clippings to Recorder Editor Shannon Williams at The Indianapolis Recorder office, 2901 N. Tacoma Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46218 or via email at shannonw @indyrecorder.com.

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