Drug Possession And Drug Related Crime - 2684 Words

Macro Problem The criminal justice system and government have too harsh of penalties related to drug possession and drug related crime. We have made substance abuse a crime instead of treating it as a disease, thus creating overcrowding in prisons, unemployment rate increases, increase in welfare recipients, and many other social issues. We do not spend enough money on treatment programs so many of addicts are housed in jail and prison. This issue impacts my client, Amber, because she was in much greater need of substance abuse treatment than jail time. If she had an opportunity to address her mental health issues when she first entered the criminal justice system, she may have stopped illegal activity, sought treatment for her addiction and changed her trajectory. Intervention Implementing a program that offers comprehensive mental health assessments in jail that include: case management by a social worker, treatment plans and goals, Long-term substance abuse rehabilitation, and aftercare. This intervention will occur on a state level. Context Substance use and misuse has been a societal problem for centuries. Kentucky, specifically has struggled with prescription drug abuse over the last 20 years, and â€Å"Kentucky has the highest rates of illicit opioid use than the nation for all age groups† (REACH of Louisville, 2011, p. 4) not to mention the â€Å"highest drug overdose death rates in the country, at 17.9 per 100,000 people; ranking sixth highest in the nation† (Cordini,Show MoreRelatedMarijuana Has Always Been A Concern In How It Should Be1625 Words   |  7 Pagesmarijuana. This leads to the question how does ethnicity play a role in arrest/incarceration rates when taking into account marijuana usage? Looking at the prohibition of marijuana, how some states have legalized it and others still have it as an illicit drug and how ethnicity plays a role. The rates of usage based on ethnicity and how it affects the youth in neighborhoods and colleges, with the racial profiling that goes with it. Finally, h ow marijuana is seen when it shifts when ethnicity is put intoRead More`` The House I Live ``1921 Words   |  8 Pagesworld’s largest jailer, for over 40 years, the War on Drugs has succeeded in imprisoning more than 45 million people. Although one might think that the law enforcement has cleared the streets from drugs, unfortunately, drugs are still more available than ever. Historically, certain drugs that are illegal today were commonly used in America. In the 1800s, drug addiction was looked at as a public health issue, whereas today it’s treated like a violent crime (The House I Live In). Eugene Jarecki, author andRead MoreLegalization Of Marijuana Should Be Legal930 Words   |  4 PagesSince the 1970’s, marijuana has increasingly taken the forefront as the next â€Å"socially harmless† drug of choice, akin to the likes of alcohol and tobacco. Many state legislatures have begun a decriminalization process, and in some cases, full legalization and regulation. Though the scope of the following research is not to discuss the differences in legislation, the broad spectrum between completely illegal and legal use of marijuana should be noted. Regulation varies greatly from incredibly restrictedRead MoreEffects Of Marijuana On The Body1139 Words   |  5 Pagesloss of coordination. As a person uses the drug they begin to become slower and slower when an instantaneous reaction is required. For example, using marijuana can make it difficult for a person to simply catch a ball in the sport of baseball even if before using marijuana that same person did not have difficulty with this task. (â€Å"Marijuana†) The main ingredient in marijuana that has a negative effect on the body, specifically the brain, is THC. When the drug is inhaled it begins affecting the brainRead MoreThe United States Current Drug Policy882 Words   |  4 Pagesstringent illegal drug use policy and the high percentages of its population that have consum ed illegal substances. The United States has issued a drug war against millions of Americans who use and sell illegal substances. This war has cost taxpayers billions annually and continues to contribute to an incarceration rate that surpasses any other country (Walmsley 2009). Although, stringent policies have lowered the decline in U.S drug consumption since the 1970’s, the war on drugs in the United StatesRead MoreRelationship Between Drug And Crime1050 Words   |  5 PagesIs There a Relationship between drug and crime? Is there a relationship between drug and crime? My topic is deliberately based on whether or not there is a relationship between drug crime. My reasoning and facts should persuade you to believe that crime drug are related. My essay will have quotes, facts, and reasoning, which will all revolve on my essential question. Drug related offenses and a drug-using lifestyle are major contributors to the U.S crime problem. Provisional data from 1991 showRead MoreCriminal Justice Process Ensures Individuals Rights1439 Words   |  6 Pagessystem is divided into three main components. The first component is the police and law enforcement. This may involve state, federal and municipal agencies that have the responsibility of ensuring peace, providing emergency assistance, investigating crimes and apprehending suspects. The second component is the court system, which is involved in the prosecution of criminal suspects, carrying out trials and giving out sentences to those found guilty of their offences. The third component is the correctionalRead MoreDrugs, Crime And Violence915 Words   |  4 Pageshas high levels of drug use (Abadinsky, 2014). Drugs, crime and violence are related in a number of ways. The most obvious reason is that certain drugs are deemed illegal in the United States; therefore, making it a crime to use, possess, distribute, or manufacture these substances (Abadinsky, 2014). These drugs can influence the user’s behavior and can lead to violent acts or other criminal activity being committed. This essay will examine the connection between drugs, crime and violence and discussRead MoreMandatory Sentencing For Minor Drug Offences957 Words   |  4 Pages1971, the United States has been on a war against drugs. Yet four decades and one trillion dollars later, we are still fighting this war (Branson). All that we have to show for this war is drugs running rampant and tons of citizens incarcerated. Mandatory sentencing for minor drug offences should be overturned due to overflowing prisons, damaging families, and the scare tactic it was created to be has failed. Due to mandatory sentencing for minor drug offences, the American prison system is overflowingRead MoreEffects Of Decriminalization Of Drugs786 Words   |  4 PagesDecriminalization of Drugs The War on Drugs has been a miserable failure. Prohibition does not work—if people need their fix, then they somehow find a way to get it. Obviously, it would be a much better world out there if drug abuse did not exist; nevertheless, users are still going to seek out ways to use and abuse drugs. Controlled substances are dangerous and should be treated with respect. People in possession of drugs should be treated with respect and not be looked at as violent criminals. Drug decriminalization