Syringe decriminalization

It’s not often that liberals and libertarians can agree on an issue, but syringe decriminalization in North Carolina is a policy that continues to gain bipartisan support.

The Negative Effects of Syringe Criminalization on Law Enforcement:

A Interview with Officer Jen Earls

Police officers risk their lives to protect our communities, but there’s one group whose safety they often overlook– themselves. Tight budgets leave many police departments unable to afford sufficient training and equipment to protect personnel from exposure to blood borne disease.

Officer Jen Earls was employed for eight years with the Chicago police department. During her time as a patrol officer and a member of rapid response and special operations teams, she constantly came in contact with dirty needles, broken crack pipes, razors, and other “sharps” that could potentially infect an officer with HIV and hepatitis C.