Here in the United States, we incarcerate more people per capita than any other nation. Between 1970 and 2010, the number of people incarcerated in this country grew by 700%. (ACLU 2011) Some is due to the laws that were put in place back in the 70’s and 80’s to combat the rise of drugs. Looking at some of the numbers, 1 in 5 are in jail for drug offenses. You can even take the numbers down to the federal, state and jail levels to see a difference in those numbers. States and jails hold far more inmates so the rate is smaller compared to federal prisons. (Wagner & Rabuy 2016) Individuals imprisoned for drug offenses make up 25% of our national prison population. Large numbers of people are arrested each year for nonviolent drug charges and
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(Patchin & Keveles, 2004) The law makers have put policies in place when it comes to incarceration rates that take billions of dollars each year away from other projects with not much benefit to the safety of the public. We have seen more legislation brought up by states and even the federal government dealing with possession of marijuana in smaller amounts. There are those that believe that people that use drugs need to go to treatment not jail. Some states realize they are wasting money and prison space incarcerating people for simple possession charges. These states are moving those types of crimes over to the civil court side for the …show more content…
Alternative sentencing programs tend to have a common thread and that is to try to give the person the best solution with the goal of not becoming a repeat offender. Typically, alternative sentencing breaks into three broad categories. They are: 1. Life skills training; 2. Job skills training; and 3. Offender rehabilitation; a. Drug counseling; and b. Alcohol counseling. (Institute of Public Policy Truman School of Public Affairs University of Missouri – Columbia, 2006) Other alternatives out there are electronic monitoring, the forfeiture programs, home detention, intensive supervision probation, substance abuse treatment and work release. This is a politically charged issue that has to balance the needs of the government and criminal justice system in the milieu of resource scarcity, with the needs of the offenders, and the safety of the community. (Orrick & Vieraitis,
(Patchin & Keveles, 2004) The law makers have put policies in place when it comes to incarceration rates that take billions of dollars each year away from other projects with not much benefit to the safety of the public. We have seen more legislation brought up by states and even the federal government dealing with possession of marijuana in smaller amounts. There are those that believe that people that use drugs need to go to treatment not jail. Some states realize they are wasting money and prison space incarcerating people for simple possession charges. These states are moving those types of crimes over to the civil court side for the …show more content…
Alternative sentencing programs tend to have a common thread and that is to try to give the person the best solution with the goal of not becoming a repeat offender. Typically, alternative sentencing breaks into three broad categories. They are: 1. Life skills training; 2. Job skills training; and 3. Offender rehabilitation; a. Drug counseling; and b. Alcohol counseling. (Institute of Public Policy Truman School of Public Affairs University of Missouri – Columbia, 2006) Other alternatives out there are electronic monitoring, the forfeiture programs, home detention, intensive supervision probation, substance abuse treatment and work release. This is a politically charged issue that has to balance the needs of the government and criminal justice system in the milieu of resource scarcity, with the needs of the offenders, and the safety of the community. (Orrick & Vieraitis,