Back to Editorials on Noelle Bush's arrest

What's going on?

By Ruth Carter, prisoner of the drug war

Some of us here at Pekin Federal Prison Camp would like to know how this works. The Constitution protects the rich and famous and not the average American citizen. On January 30th, 2002, the morning show of CNN reported that Noelle Bush, daughter of Florida Governor Jeb Bush, was arrested for forging a prescription for Xanax, a felony charge punishable by 5 years in prison, but that she won't do the time because she was a first time offender.

Richard Downey, Jr. has been arrested three times, and the most time he has served was two years. He is currently doing some kind of rehabilitation. The list just goes on and on. Athletes, movie stars and political people always get probation and rehabilitation instead of incarceration. Many of us here at Pekin are first-time, nonviolent offenders and serving prison terms of anywhere from 5 to 15 years. I don't think the public is aware of what is going on in the United States Justice Department. People who have no money or are not of any political status are serving long prison terms for non-violent crimes.

Like the statement given by Governor Bush's family, it deeply saddens them about their daughter's arrest. Substance abuse is something that is affecting families across the nation. No addiction, whether it be drinking, drugs, gambling, or shopping, plays favorites-all are victims-the rich, the poor, the famous, the political, whites, blacks and brown people: except when it comes to prison time.