 |
|
|
|
|
|
Some college students or would-be students who were denied federal financial aid for past drug convictions will regain eligibility under a measure passed last week by Congress and expected to be signed soon by President Bush. But students convicted of a drug felony or misdemeanor in college will still be disqualified from receiving federal aid for at least one year. Now, the American Civil Liberties Union is preparing to challenge the constitutionality of that law. And other groups opposed to the drug penalty are pursuing reforms on the state level. The measure passed last week by Congress scales back a 1998 law denying federal financial aid to applicants who indicated they had been convicted of a drug offense. Juvenile offenses don't count; offenders can regain eligibility by completing certain drug treatment programs. Groups fighting for a repeal of the drug penalty say the revised version will help a small number of older students but doesn't go far enough. "Someone who was caught using or dealing drugs long ago now will get financial aid," says Chris Mulligan of the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform, whose members include civil rights, education, health and criminal justice groups. But "a student caught with a joint in college is still going to lose financial aid." Using Department of Education data, the reform coalition and other groups estimate about 175,000 applications have been disqualified since the government began asking about drug convictions on financial aid forms in 2000. That doesn't account for students who didn't apply because they assumed they would be denied. Mulligan says many students are penalized again at the state level. A coalition study released today shows that 35 states deny educational funding because of drug convictions even though their legislatures in most cases have never voted to do so. Most follow federal policies out of convenience, the report says. The coalition is urging those states to adopt policies that grant aid regardless of drug convictions. Meanwhile, others are taking the question to court. Students for Sensible Drug Policy recently sued the U.S. Education Department over a technical dispute as it seeks a state-by-state breakdown of students who have lost federal aid based on how they answered a question about drug convictions on the Department of Education's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. And the ACLU Drug Law Reform Project is preparing to file a nationwide class-action lawsuit against officials "who have ultimately denied student aid" to students with drug offenses, staff attorney Adam Wolf said. He declined to give details but said lawyers have worked with "literally hundreds" of students. The law has had a rocky history. It was the brainchild of Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., who said it would deter students from using or selling drugs, encourage abusers to get treatment and hold students accountable for taxpayer money. Souder also introduced the bill to soften the law, saying it reached beyond his intent. But a congressionally created advisory committee suggested last year that the drug issue be dropped, calling it "irrelevant" to aid eligibility.
|
|
We are careful not to duplicate the efforts of other organizations, and as a grassroots coalition of prisoners and social reformers, our resources (time and money) are limited. The vast expertise and scope of the various drug reform organizations will enable you to stay informed on the ever-changing, many-faceted aspects of the movement. Our colleagues in reform also give the latest drug war news. Please check their websites often. |
|
|
 |
