Back in 2013, the US prison population was estimated to be around 2.2 million, including those who were in county jails and both state and federal prisons. Would you be surprised to find out that many of those who are behind bars in the US, are there because of drug-related offenses? In 2014, it was estimated that roughly 50 percent of those who were in federal prison, were there because they had been incarcerated over drug-related offenses.
There are a variety of drug-related charges that one might be facing, common charges like possession and trafficking, but these “crimes” don't necessarily imply that there is any victim involved in the scenario.
And when there isn't a victim and only a “non-violent crime” has taken place that is considered a drug-related offense in the eyes of the state, doesn't it seem like an incredible waste of resources to continue housing these individuals behind bars? Or wasting resources processing them at all?
It takes a lot of money to deal with the 'drug problem' in the US, and criminal justice experts have been calling for reforms for well over a decade; suggesting that authorities should re-think their ever-failing war on drugs.
A number of law enforcement professionals have been very vocal about calling for drastic changes to be made, some even suggesting that all drugs should be legalized. It costs far too much to continue the battle and it is failing by multiple standards.
The government has spent billions of dollars on the war on drugs. . .
Meanwhile, they're losing billions of gallons of treated drinking water every year because they've neglected to update infrastructure like their degrading water systems. But it's not like they even bother to ask if the people that are footing the bill have any preference; perhaps they'd like to see the circle of drug-war failure come to a final end?
A Different Approach. . .
Some jurisdictions are looking to take a different approach to drug crimes and drug addicts. It's more than evident that what they've been doing for the past few decades hasn't been working and is only causing more problems.
To try and reduce some unnecessary incarceration, authorities in places like Baltimore and Seattle have said that they are looking to offer support services instead of jail time when it comes to those who are engaging in drug-related “crimes.” Instead of criminal charges, authorities will be looking to help individuals, assign them case managers, and offer housing assistance and drug treatment options etc.
There are similar rehabilitation programs taking place in other areas around the US. They don't want to simply cart people off to jail any longer, at least some don't, they want to try and offer them a different option. And it might be one that won't cause them any more harm like incarceration and a criminal record will.
Lawmakers in Virginia beach also want to take a different approach, but their plans are a little bit different.
Virginia Beach officials recently announced that they were going to create a new 'drug court' that is going to deal with these offenders, rather than enduring the high cost of sending them through the traditional system.
They ultimately want to help rehabilitate non-violent drug offenders and they think this new 'drug court' ( the Virginia Beach Drug Treatment Court) is the best way to go about doing that.
For the new drug court program,offenders are required to submit to the program voluntarily, but it's still in a way forcing these addicts to get treatment (with the threat of jail as their alternative option) and that hasn't ever proved to be a successful long-lasting method for success. However, these drug courts (the some 3,000+ located around the US) have been shown to play some role in reducing recidivism with those who participate. For this particular court in Virginia Beach, authorities insist that all parties involved are volunteering their time and so that this new process isn't requiring any additional city funds.
The new process will encourage offenders to obtain and maintain employment, to receive treatment for their addiction, to possibly complete community service, homework assignments, and more. They'll also be required to undergo random drug testing on a frequent basis.
Those who are going to be selected for this new program are supposed to be individuals who have previously been suspended from a jail or prison sentence. If the individual tests positive for an illegal substance while they're on probation, then they can allegedly be selected to join the new program. It's no doubt a better option for those who are faced with prison, but it still seems like a waste of effort and time for a lot of people over what are essentially non-violent and victimless crimes.
Pics:
Pixabay
ClipartPanda via clipartpanda.com/categories/person-thinking-clipart
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Pixabay
Sources:
http://wtkr.com/2017/09/18/virginia-beach-announces-start-of-new-drug-treatment-court/
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2017.html
https://steemit.com/technology/@doitvoluntarily/mit-researchers-develop-robot-to-detect-leaks-in-water-and-gas-pipes
https://pilotonline.com/news/local/crime/virginia-s-drug-problem-heroin-and-opioid-deaths-continue-to/article_08e2373b-1760-52eb-b512-26742e251655.html
http://southsidedaily.com/2017/09/18/virginia-beach-drug-court-ready-to-help-residents-kick-their-habits-nws/
https://www.nij.gov/topics/courts/drug-courts/pages/work.aspx
http://www.13newsnow.com/news/local/virginia-beach-authorities-open-new-drug-court-1/466105585
Related Posts:
Police Commissioner Calls For The Legalization of All Drugs
Baltimore Police Taking A New Approach On Victimless Crimes
Education Over Force: Dealing With Criminality
https://steemit.com/philosophy/@doitvoluntarily/education-over-force-dealing-with-criminality
Drug Use And Human Rights
https://steemit.com/writing/@doitvoluntarily/drug-use-and-human-rights
thanks fo sharing, voted. If we educate people well enough, we might not need prisons at all.
Part of the problem is private prisons and their lobbyists.
A corporation's primary goal is to make money for it's share holders. Private prisons make more money if more people are in prison. So they lobby for harsher punishments, longer sentences, and against any plan that would lead to less prisoners.
It is in their best interests if inmates re-offend when they are released. We have incentivised not rehabilitating prisoners. Private prisons make more money when the offender comes out worse than when he arrived.
How is this good for society?
Thanks for this. I hadn't read your comment before mine. 😝 😛
What is it with people wanting to set up parallell law systems these days? The same counts for so-called Social Justice Tribunals (e.g. in Canada).
"Tyrants In Virginia Want To Establish A New Court To Deal With People Exercising Their Right to Own Their Own Bodies"
This may look good but I'm not so sure.
Is this program for meth addicts or also for weed smoker or growers or traders, from which there are a lot incarcerated. If this is the case than such forced re-habilitation would cost lot's of (tax)money for people who don't need it. plus It gives the prisons and government a reason to continue what they are doing, because it's seen as good ( they "help" people)
English is not my native language so I hope you get what I wrote. :)
I get what you wrote. I think that is what they do in Europe! 😝 😛
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Great..! keep it up
Odds are it won't happen. Prisons have been contracted out to private companies and the contract is that they will have a certain vacancy rate. If that rate goes too high the company will put out. See link
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/19/private-prison-quotas_n_3953483.html
this drug court in particular has already been est👍 just waiting on its first participants to be processed
If it works I'm for it, I can't see how they lock people up for drug crimes that don't hurt others. What I mean is if someone is locked up for smoking a joint. If it is a person selling heroin to high school kids, that's a different story.
that is what they've been doing for decades. Possession and trafficking for ex are acts that don't involve victims.
True.
I am glad today I saw the first plate. Write comments on my post
Tipped over? Thank you. I am glad that my heart is connected.
Thanks for this. I guess the best solution would be to identify and address the root cause of why people end up taking drugs.
What I find also interesting about the prison system in the United States is that many of the prisons are privately owned according to my understanding. They are put into REITS (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and then people can invest in them. They are even listed on exchanges I believe.
The reason I am bringing that up is because there may be conflicts of interest. Not that government owned prisons would not pose any conflicts of interest.
When I watched the series Narcos this opened my eyes how big the problem is... I live in Holland were we have a different law.. but it's sad that the people who need help the most, fall into the drug trap.. no court will ever change that.
Support services and rehab , especially for those that want it and can bennifit from it , like first timers for instance is far better then putting them in jail only to get out and start all over again with the same group of people , it becomes a never ending cycle ! Great post my friend upped and resteemed , I hope you got my message I left you in your previous post here THANKS !! : https://steemit.com/news/@doitvoluntarily/plans-to-revive-civil-asset-forfeiture-fall-flat
The war on drugs continues. The people waging the war should be the ones behind bars. they are the real criminals.
I hope those reforms really happen it would be great drug dependency is an addiction a sickness or doesn't mean they're bad people, thanks for the info 😊
Similar to what we experienced in Aceh, most prisoners are in prison, they are drug prisoners, either circulating or consuming. Hopefully, with the new regulations that exist in your country, can reduce the circulation of drugs that can damage our young generation. Thanks for sharing.