The state of Iowa could reduce its incarcerated population by 5,427 and save $360,400,064 by doing so -- all without a major impact on public safety, according to the ACLU of Iowa. The organization, along with ACLU affiliates nationwide, recently released a blueprint to reduce mass incarceration in the state.
Could Iowa cut its incarceration rate by half? ACLU says yes.
A large percentage of drug field tests result in false positives
If a drug field test comes back positive, that is generally considered enough to justify an arrest. Field tests are inadmissible in most courts, so further testing must be performed by a lab. Unfortunately, lab results can take months to come back. If a field test is inaccurate, an innocent person could be stuck in jail for a long time before the inaccuracy is discovered.
Can you be arrested for driving while taking prescription drugs?
Driving while under the influence of drugs can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. In fact, if you are pulled over in Iowa and are found to have any amount of controlled or illegal substance in your bloodstream or urine, you can be charged with OWI.
How drug courts can offer hope
If you are charged with a drug crime, drug court may offer a way for you to regain freedom and control over your life while receiving substance abuse treatment. Drug court also keeps those charged from being incarcerated.
Three Iowa men convicted of drug trafficking in Davenport
On May 3, an Iowa jury found three men guilty of multiple drug and firearms crimes. The trio will be sentenced on Sept. 12.
Iowa father and sons convicted of cocaine distribution
A Waterloo father and his two sons were charged for conspiring to distribute cocaine. The three were convicted by a jury in federal court following a trial that lasted for five days.
Iowa police seize 14 pounds of marijuana
Iowa police have reported that marijuana with a street value of $56,000 was discovered during the search of a Hancock County residence on April 19. Media reports indicate that a 28-year-old man was taken into custody at the scene in connection with seized drugs. He has been charged with both misdemeanor and felony drug possession and faces a sentencing enhancement because the narcotics were discovered with 1,000 feet of a public park. He was released from the Winnebago County Jail on April 19 after paying a $10,000 bond.
Man faces drug charges after high-speed chase
The Iowa State Patrol took a 21-year-old man into custody on April 5 following a high-speed chase. While the man was charged with a number of offenses in Iowa, he is also wanted in Florida on a second-degree murder charge. He is awaiting extradition to Florida.
Transient Iowa man faces up to 30 years for drug and gun charges
A domestic dispute that erupted on the 800 block of Fairchild Street in Iowa City resulted in police arresting a man on drug and firearm charges. The combined penalties for the felonies and misdemeanors aimed at him could add up to a 30-year prison sentence.
Men accused of drug crimes after police raid
Three men are facing charges after a police search in an apartment in Iowa City led to the seizure of approximately pounds of marijuana and thousands of dollars. Local police obtained a state narcotics warrant and searched a Johnson St. home on Feb. 27. There, they claim that they discovered $25,000 in cash as well as more than two pounds of marijuana. Police also say that they found pills in the apartment, including Xanax, methadone and Adderall. During the search, two men in the apartment were arrested.
