Community service for drug convictions

        People convicted of drug possession charges would be required to perform community service under a bill approved Thursday by the House Judiciary Committee.
        The measure, which goes to the full House for debate, also would increase criminal penalties for people convicted more than once of possession of illicit drugs.
        That provision is aimed at drug dealers who, to avoid conviction on more serious drug offenses, carry only enough of an illicit drug to be convicted repeatedly of possession, said committee Chairman Jeffrey Lamberti, R-Ankeny.

The Des Moines Register
Friday, February 27, 1998, Page 5M
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