President Barack Obama states that "it just doesn 't make sense to require a nonviolent drug offender to serve 20 years, or in some cases, life, in prison.” After granting pardons to over 58 nonviolent criminal offenders, he came to this conclusion. Obama makes a very good point here, why are we sentencing nonviolent offenders greater lengths than murders or rapists? The truth, America is caught up in the war on drugs. This results in failure to solve the real, bigger issue at hand. Instead of neglecting these people, we must exercise our power to help them become active members of society again. We have numerous rehabilitation programs that the Government doesn 't recognize as legitimate resources. Instead of utilizing these programs, the
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Of course, non violent drug offenders still deserve to serve their time; however, how much is enough? The Bureau of Justice defines “nonviolent crimes as property, drug, and public order offenses which do not involve a threat of harm or an actual attack upon a victim.” These are people who have an opportunity to better themselves, and our economy. If they become working members of society, it’s beneficial for America as a whole. It’s completely unethical and illogical that nonviolent drug offenders serve the same sentences of those committing violent and severe crimes due to the cost, defiance of alternatives, and irrational ideology. Due to the cost alone, we must reassess our harsh policy on nonviolent drug charges. America is roughly $19 Trillion in debt; however, we still spend ludicrous amounts on our prison system. These are the people that will attribute to our economy, once healthy. They …show more content…
Society fails to realize that addicts need help in order to become themselves again. Addiction is an illness, and while the inmate chose that road, America has the power to help them off it. Hoping they will become clean in the prison system isn’t solving the problem. It is almost if we are just wiping our problems under a rug, hoping they will fix themselves. Putting addicts in the prison system, without proper treatment, creates a surefire way to have them end up back in prison. I know firsthand, living with an addict guides my argument. Learning my once loving, caring mother was an addict crushed me. I actually wished she had gone to jail; however, she found rehab. Seeing my once alcoholic mother, back to her caring loving self shows me how powerful rehab can be. It truly works. Finding rehab helped her, which uplifted me and my family. So, multiple people may benefit from rehab; the user, as well as families will find peace. This creates a domino effect, leading to an increase of happiness within our society. Courses such as “HOPE programs, function like 24/7 programs for methamphetamine users. Participants are called each day and asked to come in for a drug test on random days. Failure to show up or a failed tests result in short jail stays” (Hult). This is where America must put the focus. Our efforts must be on helping these people, not neglecting them. It is America 's
Of course, non violent drug offenders still deserve to serve their time; however, how much is enough? The Bureau of Justice defines “nonviolent crimes as property, drug, and public order offenses which do not involve a threat of harm or an actual attack upon a victim.” These are people who have an opportunity to better themselves, and our economy. If they become working members of society, it’s beneficial for America as a whole. It’s completely unethical and illogical that nonviolent drug offenders serve the same sentences of those committing violent and severe crimes due to the cost, defiance of alternatives, and irrational ideology. Due to the cost alone, we must reassess our harsh policy on nonviolent drug charges. America is roughly $19 Trillion in debt; however, we still spend ludicrous amounts on our prison system. These are the people that will attribute to our economy, once healthy. They …show more content…
Society fails to realize that addicts need help in order to become themselves again. Addiction is an illness, and while the inmate chose that road, America has the power to help them off it. Hoping they will become clean in the prison system isn’t solving the problem. It is almost if we are just wiping our problems under a rug, hoping they will fix themselves. Putting addicts in the prison system, without proper treatment, creates a surefire way to have them end up back in prison. I know firsthand, living with an addict guides my argument. Learning my once loving, caring mother was an addict crushed me. I actually wished she had gone to jail; however, she found rehab. Seeing my once alcoholic mother, back to her caring loving self shows me how powerful rehab can be. It truly works. Finding rehab helped her, which uplifted me and my family. So, multiple people may benefit from rehab; the user, as well as families will find peace. This creates a domino effect, leading to an increase of happiness within our society. Courses such as “HOPE programs, function like 24/7 programs for methamphetamine users. Participants are called each day and asked to come in for a drug test on random days. Failure to show up or a failed tests result in short jail stays” (Hult). This is where America must put the focus. Our efforts must be on helping these people, not neglecting them. It is America 's