For decades, overcrowded prison populations have been at the top of the list for penal reform in the United States. The Federal Bureau of Prisons reports that nearly 85,500 individuals are currently incarcerated on drug-related charges, making up 46.4% of the total inmate population in our prison systems. Of those incarcerated on drug charges, nearly half are low-level drug offenders with no current or prior violence charges on their records. (The United States War on Drugs, n.d) Are criminalization and harsh punitive measures against these nonviolent offenders the root source of our overcrowded prison systems?
The nation 's great divide on how to address nonviolent drug offenders can be traced back to 1914 when the Harrison Narcotic Act, …show more content…
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. The harsh historical prosecution of drug-related offenses has cost billions of dollars in funding, overpopulated not only our prisons but our courts, and has failed to reduce recidivism …show more content…
Many offenders are released from detention facilities; however, they remain under supervision as a means to protect the community. A drug offender, particularly those with lengthier yet a still nonviolent criminal record, may be subjected to a stricter form of probation referred to as intensive supervision. Although drug treatment is not a requirement, intensive probation requires daily contact between the offender and the probation officer alongside random house searches and urine tests. (Peak, 2011 Pg. 265) A similar approach to punishment for nonviolent offenders is boot camp rehab. Like intensive probation, boot camp rehab encompasses a strict daily regimen over several months that enforces structure, responsibility, and respect for authority. Boot camp rehab is more affordable than many traditional forms of rehabilitation. However, boot camp rehab does not address the underlying issues that influence the
The nation 's great divide on how to address nonviolent drug offenders can be traced back to 1914 when the Harrison Narcotic Act, …show more content…
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. The harsh historical prosecution of drug-related offenses has cost billions of dollars in funding, overpopulated not only our prisons but our courts, and has failed to reduce recidivism …show more content…
Many offenders are released from detention facilities; however, they remain under supervision as a means to protect the community. A drug offender, particularly those with lengthier yet a still nonviolent criminal record, may be subjected to a stricter form of probation referred to as intensive supervision. Although drug treatment is not a requirement, intensive probation requires daily contact between the offender and the probation officer alongside random house searches and urine tests. (Peak, 2011 Pg. 265) A similar approach to punishment for nonviolent offenders is boot camp rehab. Like intensive probation, boot camp rehab encompasses a strict daily regimen over several months that enforces structure, responsibility, and respect for authority. Boot camp rehab is more affordable than many traditional forms of rehabilitation. However, boot camp rehab does not address the underlying issues that influence the