Pros And Cons Of Illegal Drugs

Many different states have begun sending nonviolent drug offenders to various kinds of drug treatment program the state offers. By doing this, it has significantly reduced the problems with overcrowding. If an individual is arrested and charged with simple possession of a drug and no other crime is being commented, then this person is doing no harm to anyone else. They should be given the opportunity to try and make a change in their life and beat the addiction. Instead, if this person is thrown into jail, they are still going to be an addict with a criminal record now and will not be able to be a contributing member of society. (Everett 1 ).

This journal article discusses how the government has increased “mandatory sentencing” using “aggressive initiatives” for drug related crimes. Additionally, these government implemented sentencing guidelines have made the prison population grow

There has been debate over whether non-violent drug offenders belong in prison. Some believe all drug offenders should be put in prison, others believe that it depends on circumstances, and, still others believe only violent drug offenders should be incarcerated. Overcrowding is one point of contention. It seems as though the slightest infraction can land a person in prison. Violence is rampant, whether inmate versus inmate or inmate versus guard. Rehabilitation or education is practically non-existent, unless an inmate teaching another inmate how to commit the ‘perfect’ crime is counted. Evidence shows being in prison does little to rehabilitate an inmate. Clearly, the system does not work.

Since the declaration of “the war on drugs”, society’s perspective relating to punishment of drug-involved offenders has been much too vindictive. Now, an offender is not allowed to be sent to treatment by a judge, he must go to jail. This is due to mandatory sentencing. Upcoming diversion programs are an excellent alternative to “hard time” for qualifying drug offenders. These programs are becoming very popular and evidence shows that they are greatly beneficial, not only to the accused, but to society as a whole. Diversion programs benefit many regarding the increase in community involvement and safer city streets, rehabilitation of offenders, and financial means. The criminal justice system is currently at a stand still in regards to convicted

With California jails and prisons still struggling with finding a reform for non-violent drug offenders the states recidivism rates continue to reach unprecedented numbers. Between 1983 and 1998, drug admissions to state and federal prisons increased sixteen-fold, from over 10,000 drug admissions in 1983 to almost 167,000 new prison entries for drug offenses in 1998 (Worrall et al, 2009). This has been a direct result of our legal system incarcerating offenders who have substance abuse related issues instead of providing a way for treatment or rehabilitation outside of incarceration. Through public policies regarding criminal justice interventions that address drug use and crime, an initiative was created to provide treatment services

We have recently seen a change in the way that drug abuse and addiction are viewed. Considering addiction to be a chronic and relapsing disease is a new concept for the public, policymakers, and even health care professionals (Leshner 46). With this in mind, we can recognize that corrections without the benefit of treatment will fall short in correcting drug-seeking and addictive behaviors (Leshner 46). These, of course, are also the behaviors that most often cause an individual to return to crimes that promote their drug use upon leaving jail or prison (Leshner

The authors showed that with the growing criteria for offenders to be submitted to drug programs caused a “widening net” effect. This effect causes many offenders who would have needed help with their addicted fall-through and are incarcerated. These individuals then contribute to the growing population of prisons and jails. I agree with the author’s idea to fix this problem by creating more drug court programs with will allow more offenders to filter through to get help. Another fix for drug courts is to widen the restrictions of offenders and allow more addicted offenders into the drug courts. This also will allow numerous offenders to get the help that they need and hopefully not

Currently, drug courts have been proven to be successful at reducing recidivism of offenders. In the United States there are about 120,000 people receiving help in order to rehabilitate them and to try to reduce the chances of recidivism (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2011). These programs require individuals to participate in the programs for a minimum of one year. During this year the individuals are required to appear in court and be drug tested at

One of the biggest problems with the criminal justice system ever sense the war on drugs is that their only goal is to get as many users and dealers off the street as possible. Not focusing on if that person is addicted to that substance, that they need help to get clean. Rates of people who clinically meet all the criteria to be considered medically addicted to a substance is shocking, 65 percent of inmates meet that standard. Of that 65 percent of inmates only about 11 percent of them receive actual treatment while in prison (New CASA* Report Finds). This is shocking because for a system that is trying to get people off the street, one would think they would want to keep them

The United States Correctional System is often challenged as to whether it wants to rehabilitate drug offenders or punish them, and because of this it mostly does neither. Even though drug abuse and drug trafficking are widely spread national issues, the mental, social, and economic costs of "healing" through incarceration are only making the "disease" worse. Never before have more prisoners been locked up on drug offenses than today. Mixed with the extremely high risks of today's prison environment, the concept of incarceration as punishment for drug offenders cannot be successful. Without the correct form of rehabilitation through treatment within Michigan's Correctional System, drug

Those incarcerated today are not given the chance to change their behavior patterns, especially when it is in regard to drug addiction. The criminal justice system in general does not consider drug abuse as anything but a crime and does not think about treating the disease of addiction in order to reduce or eliminate the crimes that come as a

One of the most profound problems that plagues our society is drug addiction. With drug addiction comes those who offend and have run-ins with the law. Our country deals with these drug-addicted offenders by placing them in jails for a year or longer, only to have them come back out to society when their sentence is over. They are still drug-addicts and so they return to the street only to commit yet another crime. From here the cycle of crime, arrest, jail, and return to society continues, solving absolutely nothing. Therefore, placing drug-addicted offenders in jails fails to confront the major problem at hand which is that of the drug abuse. If drug-addicted offenders were placed in drug treatment centers instead of being incarcerated,

Using a supportive system to assist drug addicts in the Criminal Justice System will greatly improve society. The use of closer monitoring and counseling for first and second time drug offenders will help offenders recover from their disease before the disease takes control of the offender’s life. Halfway houses will better assist repeat offenders in recovery much more than sitting in a jail or prison. These two methods combined would allow the United States to see a much different society where drugs are not as prevalent, and with a much lower crime rate.

A drug is any substance other than food which changes the way the body or mind functions. A Legal drug is a substance that is available to the use of everyone without breaking the law. There are many types of legal drugs but today I will be talking about Tobacco. Tobacco is a stimulant drug. Meaning, a drug that speeds up the brain and nervous system. (Michelle, Rowan,2016) Tobacco comes from a green, leafy agricultural plant, that is grown all around the world and is made by drying, fermenting the leaves and then is grounded up to be used in many ways. Tobacco can be found in cigarettes and pipes which are smoked. There is also smokeless tobacco, which is chewed, there is dip and snuff which is where you sniff tobacco through your nose. (Jenny Novac, 2017)

The discussion on the legalization of drugs in America has had two opposing sides. One of the groups which yes gives the pros and cons of the benefits of legalizing drugs, whereas the other stands on their ground by listing the negative effects and outcomes from such activities. The proponents of American liberalization use the example of Dutch, whether they got it right with their slogan of campaigning on the issues. The negative impacts which have arisen from the legalization of drugs in Holland has not only affected Dutch as a nation, but has also spread even to the other nations (Bergen NP). For instance, France and Britain have claimed that 80 % of the cocaine and heroin seized in their nations have come directly from Holland, where the dealers face no risk of being arrested nor prosecuted.