mandatory minimum sentences for low-level, non-violent drug offenders (YES or NO)
How do we deal with non-violent drug offenders? That’s the question! There would be no hesitation if putting a violent criminal behind bars for a very long time. Murderers, rapists, bank robbers. Those were the kinds of criminals that were locked up back in the days. Prison was known to be a place for bad guys. However, since the war on drugs has escalated, the number and duration of prison sentences for non-violent offenders incarcerated for drug possession is also on the rise. Arrests for drugs and other non-violent petty crimes should be changed from felonies to misdemeanors, therefore reducing the number of individuals jailed, and using those resources to fund mental health and drug treatment programs. Nonetheless, I feel that imprisonment will neither help individuals getting arrested for these non-serious crimes, nor will it make their communities any safer. On the other hand, while these non-violent offenders are getting incarcerated, other far more dangerous criminals are actually getting away.
Is there really a difference in prosecution and sentencing based on race in the United States? Relative to their numbers in the general population and among drug offenders, black Americans are unjustifiably arrested, convicted, and incarcerated on drug charges. Although the majority of those who sold and abused drugs are white, almost two-thirds of drug arrestees are black. In addition, the Wall Street Journal stated that, “prison sentences were nearly 20% longer for black men than those of white men for similar crimes in recent years.” I believe that potential reasons may include racial profiling. Although the existence of racial profiling goes dates back to slavery, unfortunately it still occurs on our streets today. Maybe based off the fact that black people get arrested more often and commit more crimes. Furthermore, because law enforcement tend to focus on areas of high crime which are usually consumed with low-income black individuals. The people who reside in the areas where police tend to be present a majority of the time. Maybe it’s due to other reasons, but the reality of it all is that we need to stop leaping to conclusions and bring an end to this racial bias!
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
a. Statistics- Bureau of Justice statistics will be discussed and disclosed comparing races/ethnicity and imprisonment rates amond them. Discussion will include rates of police brutality, as well as mental health stats.…
- 607 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The Sentencing Project also illustrates that the black community is intentionally targeted through mass incarceration. Their article, entitled “The Color of Justice: Racial and Ethnic Disparity in State Prisons” states that in sixteen states, black people are more than seven times more likely to get imprisoned than their white counterparts (“The Color of Justice: Racial and Ethnic Disparity in State…
- 1407 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
A stage-level analysis is the examination of disparities at each different stage in the judicial process. Wooldredge argues that disparate treatment of races during the stages of their case processing may help account for large variation in incarceration between different racial/age demographics. Over 5,000 felony cases from urban areas in Ohio were included in his study. Specifically, Wooldredge analyzed how race’s impact on sentencing changed when controlling for legal and extra-legal factors such as age, sex, employment status (2012). The study found that there was no significant difference in sentencing between African Americans and Caucasians when controlling for the severity of the crime committed. However, Wooldredge argues, that does not mean there is no racial bias in the process as a whole. Disparities in the treatment of minorities’ early stages of their case process could certainly account for differences in sentencing severity and rates. Black males between the ages of 18 and 29 receive much harsher treatment in the pre-trial stages. They are less likely to be released on their own recognizance and their bail is likely to be higher than their white counterparts. The author concludes hypothesizing that the differences in pre-trial treatment of black and white defendants are likely connected to sentencing disparities.…
- 3561 Words
- 15 Pages
Best Essays -
I do think that the mandatory sentencing is one approach to solving the drug problem, but I do not think that it is the only one. It is clear that the sentencing works to a certain extent, but is not the right choice for every situation. Personally, I feel like this is a gray area due to the fact that mandatory sentencing gives definitive discipline to someone who broke the law. Where in specific cases that approach is too strict. Although I do not have a direct answer to solve this problem, I think that different variables should play into the sentencing.…
- 102 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
I do not believe that the ends justify the means when it comes to mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenses. The reason for enacting these laws was to try and deter crime, but research has shown that harsher punishments does not lead to a decrease in crime rates. Incarcerating people for drug offenses is not an effective way to combat drug crimes. The space in prisons, and funds used to fight drug crimes should both be focused more on violent…
- 1908 Words
- 8 Pages
Good Essays -
Nowadays, if a white man commits the same crime than a black man, the white man might get a lighter sentence or punishment compared to the one the black man gets. Although they did the same crime, their sentences are different due to their race. Basically, the justice system disproportionately affects…
- 181 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Another social issue that the Criminal Justice professional faces is the incredible amount of drugs in our communities. Drug markets were once ran by organized crime groups, but now they are ran by individuals seeking to make fast cash. This subculture of people lives by values and lifestyles that devalue the legitimate means of earning a living and they embrace the use of violence to solve disputes. The Criminal Justice professionals are plagued with the role of arresting and prosecuting both dealers and addicts thus creating overcrowding in our prisons and jails. There needs to be alternatives to drug sentences such as more community based sentencing like mandatory in house treatment facilities for arrestees. These facilities should be clinic or hospital based with confinement and security. Arrestees should also be tested for drugs upon booking and if tested positive, they should be placed in mandatory treatment while detained on their crimes.…
- 565 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The United States prison system is not a suitable place for nonviolent drug offenders. The high rate of recidivism is caused by one thing and one thing only, prison sentences. Nonviolent drug offenders will have no choice other than to socialize with other inmates, some who have committed irreprehensible crimes, thereby greatly increasing their chance of becoming violent. The population of prisons in the United States is on a steady rise. One way to stop this is by reevaluating the three strikes law, because the proof that this law discourages repeat offenders is simply not there.…
- 1271 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
There are many theories on why, how and even if race discrimination plays a significant role in explaining the current arrest and incarceration rates of minorities…
- 1187 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Other factors are African Americans being sentenced differently than Whites for the same crimes. The zero tolerance policy for school related violence had an adverse effect on black children (NAACP). The mandatory minimum sentencing and the disparities for crack and powder cocaine possession is also a contributing factor (NAACP). “In 2002, blacks constituted more than 80% of the people sentenced under the federal crack cocaine laws and served substantially more time in prison for drug offenses than did whites, despite that fact that more than 2/3 of crack cocaine users in the U.S. are white or Hispanic”…
- 556 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In 2009 African-Americans are 21% more likely than whites to receive mandatory minimum sentences and 20% more likely to be sentenced to prison than white drug defendants.…
- 268 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Black people face a tremendous amount of injustice in the criminal justice system. White and Black people use drugs at similar rates, however Black people are jailed on drug charges ten times more often than White people are. (Hinger) In addition, Black Men sentences are on average 10% longer than those of their white peers for the same crime. (Kahn) From initial charging decisions to plea bargaining, to sentencing African Americans are treated more harshly when they are the defendants. (Death)…
- 905 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Minimum mandatory sentences have been established since the inception of our criminal justice system. However, these laws have gained much-needed attention as of late due to the ripple effect it has caused relating to the war on drugs. The war on drugs have been going on since the 1980s, but the use of these laws have created bigger problems in poor communities. These laws have hindered the progression of families and communities. Minimum mandatory sentences are not an effective tool in combatting the issue of controlled substances abuse and trafficking and should be repealed.…
- 741 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Dating back some time ago, the African American race was brought into this country for to become slaves and serve the White American race. All of this was established based on the tone of their skin being ugly and seen as being deformed and the white American race were destined to be the superior race overruling African Americans in every aspect giving them basically no rights at all. Although slavery days are long and gone some may say that the White American race still has an upper hand on the African Americans by using the criminal justice system against them. This topic of racial inequality within the criminal justice system of the United States also known as “the land of the free” has become more and more relevant based upon the rising number of arrests and the highly populated penal institution mostly occupied by African Americans. These rising numbers of African Americans in penal institutions have contributed greatly to the stereotype of a young African American male. Most African American males today either has family incarcerated or know someone that is and people on the outside looking automatically thinks that that young male will experience life inside of a facility at some part of their life. Almost at every stage of the criminal justice process white Americans have a better chance of getting off than African Americans while they might be accused of committing the same exact crime. White and African Americans are said to be using the same amount of drugs and narcotics at about the same rate but statistics show that African Americans are .highly outnumbering white Americans inside of penal institutions for nonviolent drug offenses. This paper will go in depth with the more proof such as statistics and facts that African Americans are experiencing racial inequalities within the criminal justice…
- 306 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
One must wonder if the "war on drugs" helps or hinders our American Criminal Justice System when you look at the overwhelming impact it has had on crowding issues within our prisons. At the present time there are over 1.5 million people in prison, 59.6 % for drug offenses alone.…
- 1178 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays