News flash, it doesn’t. America has some serious issues. It would make a whole lot of sense, and an enormous difference, if we were to revise or system for jails and prisons. If America were to do what I suggested before, It would help the problem of all of our prisons and jails being overcrowded. I personally do not like Marijuana because of the fact that it is a drug, but I like what it can be used for.…
Weed and Seed Program Giovanni Jimenez Northern Arizona University Weed and Seed Program The crime trend has continuously increased over the past decades. The increase of crimes and the higher percentage of individuals entering the Criminal Justice System has made the Federal Government to take actions in the issue. The Federal Government has implemented several strategies and programs to help citizens stay away from the Criminal Justice System and to prevent those who have been in the system from reoffending. Programs have target high crime communities and neighborhoods to reduce the high percentage of crimes committed.…
There are many policies in the criminal justice system which, over time, have proven to be ineffective. The effectiveness of a policy is based on quantitative data that analyzes the trends before and after policies are enacted. One policy that has proven to be ineffective is the prohibition of Marijuana. The interesting fact about the marijuana prohibition policy is that not only is it ineffective but by over turning it we could generate lots of revenue from the sales and taxation of the substance. The prohibition of marijuana came from public fear that was sparked by anti-drug crusaders who painted an inaccurate portrayal of the drug.…
Over the past fifty years, the prison population in America has increased tremendously. Between 1985 and 2013 alone the prison population has increased 45.2 billion people. Over the last forty years, there has been a 500% increase in the population. The increase in prison population has caused problems with overcrowding in the jails. The number of people in prison and jails for drug-related offenses between 1980 and 2014 has increased by 447,500 individuals.…
mandatory minimum sentencing causes someone who may use marijuana for personal purposes to be imprisoned for the same amount of time as someone who sells marijuana on a large scale or other violent crimes. The surprising fact that mandatory minimums are mostly applied in the federal court for drug cases shows the percentage of persons that are likely to be sent to prison for a long period of time thus increasing the prison population. Subsequently reducing, removing mandatory minimum or decriminalizing marijuana reduces the amount of people being issued a sentence of blind justice by the judge who has no discretion will have a domino effect upon the amount of people in prison for non-violent drug offenses such as marijuana possession. Among people who receive mandatory minimum sentences in 2011, 38 % were Latinos and 31 % were black, this shows a correlation between racial disparities and mandatory…
The decriminalization of marijuana has already begun across several 20 of the 50 states, allowing personal consumption with many states treating violations as minor offenses similar to traffic infractions. The U.S. Sentencing Commission pinpoints marijuana as the most popular drug of choice for convicted offenders. In a 2014 survey, the Pew Research Center found that 54% of Americans feel that marijuana should be legalized, an overwhelming 76% Americans felt that, if not legalized, small amounts of marijuana for personal use should not draw jail time (Pew Research Center, 2014). We are undoubtedly beginning to see a cultural shift in support of the decriminalization of nonviolent offenses, particularly involving the possession and recreational use of drugs. However, most agree that the production and trafficking of illicit drugs should remain a punishable offense.…
Marijuana, a drug used for medicinal and recreational purposes, is being legalized in Canada. Legalization of marijuana has significant benefits to citizens of Canada, resulting in safer communities. Legalizing marijuana will decrease the number of small offenders being imprisoned. The legalization of marijuana will decrease the amount of street distribution; ultimately, decreasing the amount of small street dealers being imprisoned. With lower imprisonment rates the number of repeat offenders will also decrease, resulting in safety within our communities.…
This idea is expressed also through Stuart Gitlow, he states that “ Since only a small percentage of state prisoners are there for marijuana offenses, how much would we be saving in criminal justice law?” Stuart Gitlow fails to consider that the number of crimes are increasing more and more every day. For example, going back to Jessica Atkins article she asserts that “ The number of crimes in the state of West Virginia increase more and more each day, and an estimated half of those crimes are due to selling and possession of the substance. Also, The New York Times stated that “ Laws banning the growing, distribution and possession of marijuana have caused tremendous damage to society, with billions spent on imprisoning people for violating pointlessly harsh laws.” These two examples show that marijuana may indeed decrease crime rates throughout the United States.…
The correctional system has been around for quite some time, and inside this system lies a few unique projects that don't require a guilty party to be set in a jail or correctional facility. Probation is the release of an offender from detention, due to a period of good behavior under standard supervision. James was 18 years old when he first started dealing with drug paraphernalia. He's never been arrested until one night he sold to an undercover cop. Considering this wasn't his first time breaking the law, the judge sentenced him to spend nine months in jail and serve three years of probation for possessing methamphetamine paraphernalia.…
Effects due to legalization of Cannabis There are many different kinds of Marijuana drugs which are legalized. One of the major drugs of it which were legalized is Cannabis. Following are the negative aspect of this drug towards the society. Due to the legalization of this drug overindulges reduces in the…
There’s also an argument that if marijuana was legal then the judges and prosecutors could focus more on violent crimes, freeing up much needed space in prisons and jails (“19 Primary Pros and Cons of Legalizing Weed”). Freeing up the space in prisons and jails could also free up some room in the budget of the state and federal governments. In the same context, there is a theory that eliminating recreational weed as an illegal drug would cut off a large…
Those in proposition have expressed fears that through ease of access, numbers in pot consumption would increase drastically causing a spark in crime, possible health risks, and a lazier society which would potentially increase unemployment and welfare. While studying Colorado, who had been the first state in the U.S. to legalize recreational use of marijuana in January 2014, we can now see that these fears held no depth. In fact, the criminalization of marijuana has had a great strain on the American people through paying billions in taxes for the enforcement of marijuana related crimes and the overcrowding marijuana cases causes in prisons and jails (DPA, Drug Policy Alliance). We have since seen, through Colorado’s full recreational legalization in beginning 2014, that the fears of legalized recreational marijuana held no depth or truth. In fact, Colorado has shown us the endless pros of such: boost in revenue, de-crowding in correctional facilities, boost…
With marijuana being legal, people will not be arrested and incarcerated for selling and using the substance. This means that spaces in jails will not be taken up; leaving room for more serious criminals. Another benefit of legalizing marijuana is that police offers can spend more of their time looking for more violent criminals. Instead of police using their time taking drug dealers to jail, they can spend their time looking for other criminals who have committed more violent crimes. In three states alone, crime rates have decreased by at least 10%.…
“25 percent of the people incarcerated on marijuana convictions are “low level offenders” (“Legalization of Marijuana” Student Resource Center). All these people take away jail space and cops that could be used to fight higher crimes. When everybody could buy “weed” legally, there would be no need for dealers. A direct result of that would be lower street crime.…
The positive effects of legalization from an economic standpoint are far reaching. The moral obligation to take measures to help prevent the youth of America from obtaining marijuana illegally, and consequently being exposed to truly dangerous substances is apparent. Finally, American citizens should not be forced to suffer unnecessarily from the harsh and painful symptoms of disease, nor the side-effects of the medications currently used to treat…