The main thing that is hurting our country right now is violence, when you read the news about Chicago they had more murders then the soldiers in Iraq due to gang violence. Furthermore if the police love arresting criminals they should arrest all the thugs and send them to prison because they are the problem. Arresting somebody for drugs is not that Title: Non-Violent Criminals Should Be Punish With Fines serious for being put behind bars that person should pay a fine for his or her punishment. Non-violent criminals have a recidivism rate of 3% according the Department of Justice. In other words a non-violent criminal has a slight chance of repeating the same
Illegal drug crimes would drop, allowing the police to turn their attention to more serious problems. There is a marijuana smoker arrested every 45 seconds in the United States. Normally, they receive large fines and small jail time but repeat offenders can get up to five years. Sadly, rapists and murderers are able to get only one year. Do you really think smoking a joint is worse that raping and killing someone??
Cases of juveniles being abused both physically and sexually as well as the suffering they endure in adult prisons have been rampant in the world today. Luck of proper facilities, information and law enforcement officers being left at their own discretion to decide on where to hold a minor when they are arrested have largely contributed to this problem. The question that everybody asks is how do you handle underage criminals who are a threat to public safety without exposing them to more harm? Statistics show that majority of the victims who commit suicides in jail are underage. As much as jails are meant to correct bad behaviors, there is a loophole when it comes to distinction between juvenile and adult jail.
Drug use in prison is one of the main problems they face. They not only try to catch inmates with drugs, but also decide on whether and inmate really needs them for a certain illness they may have. Another problem correctional officers have is trying to find skilled help actually willing to work with the inmates. Finding staff to do this kind of job is hard work and time consuming, but once the job is complete, it is all worth it in the
The prosecution, the judge and the defendant all benefit when defense counsel performs in the way the Constitution envisions. The broken public defense system in our State doesn't have to be like this. It can and must be fixed. As a result of these deficiencies, many individuals facing criminal charges are compelled to appear in court without a lawyer at critical junctures, such as when bail decisions are made. This often results in unnecessary or excessive bail being set and keeps people who cannot afford it in jail awaiting trial Many public defense lawyers also fail to: meet or consult with clients at critical stages in their cases; investigate the charges against their clients or hire experts who can assist with case preparation or testify at trial; file necessary pre-trial motions; and provide meaningful consultation before clients accept plea bargains, regardless of whether a charge is appropriate or a viable defense exists.
Mandatory minimum sentences, a valuable weapon in the war on drugs or a handcuff on judicial discretion? Mandatory minimum sentences are sentences that are imposed on drug offenders who are supposed to be considered “king pins” in the drug world. Often defendants who are imposed these harsh sentences have little or no involvement in the sell or preparation of the drugs; and at times are just guilty by association. The law to crack down on drug offenders seems to be harsher than on individuals who have been convicted of murder, rape, and many other crimes; and individuals who have no real knowledge face harsher sentences than the individuals directly involved. In cases handled by the federal government if you have no information to provide to authorities, you are given harsher sentences, because you didn’t cooperate with the government.
Drugs often enter prisons through visitors, by way of mail or personal interaction, using clever tactics that are difficult to detect. With nearly 70 percent of inmates reporting drug use during imprisonment, it is important to consider how to intervene in order to stop, or at least face, this problem. Increased cell searches and improved methods of screening visitors could help, in addition to well-supported intervention programs that can help inmates overcome their addition during imprisonment. If prisons were built to keep citizens safe and to provide training and rehabilitation for inmates upon release, it is important that changes be
An estimated 1,663,582 arrests were issued in 2009 alone, this is an extreme amount of arrests, and it’s aiding to the overcrowding of jails. If Marijuana were to be legalized, these 1,663,582 jail cells would be open to inmates who deserve to be there. Another benefit to the jails is that with fewer inmates, they could control the populations easier, and have less trouble keeping peace amongst prisoners. Along with reducing inmate numbers, the legalization would also help free up time for attorneys and court appointed lawyers to help with larger cases. This intern will reduce the time for a prisoner to go through the judicial system, most inmates spend a good deal of time waiting for their court appearance, if they are innocent then this conflicts with their work and life.
This could mean that other means than detention are used to treat delinquents, but the article underlines the fact that this is probably due to a limit of available juvenile detention bed space. In general terms the article shows that despite very diverse methods having been used to treat juvenile drug delinquency, the numbers show that it is increasing. From this could be deducted that a whole new approach might be necessary. The question would then be, is should the U.S. drug policy be changed? If the answer is yes than in what ways?
Drug interventions tend to be short-term and non-clinical, in most cases treatment consist of drug education. Education is based on cognitive behavior that focuses on substance abuse and criminal behavior. AA and other 12 step programs are also available to the inmates. The prison Chaplin is also a good support system for inmates in recovery. How limited drug treatment is in prison it appears that mandatory drug rehab treatment is working For many drug users, incarceration is often the first time they receive some form of drug treatment.