Abstract This research paper will consist of an analysis of the use and abuse of illicit drugs within the prison systems on a global basis. With information gathered from various sources such as the internet and one on one interviews with an inmate in a male correctional facility and a former inmate of a female correctional facility I intend to show the rampant flow of drugs in and out of the prison system, the control of (or lack there of) by prison officials, the drug gangs and dealers in correctional facilities, the rate of addiction, and treatments available to inmates suffering from addiction.
The introduction of drugs into the prison system has been an issue for corrections staff for many years. Prison officials The abstinence-based program, also known as the therapeutic community (T.C.), is the most widely used drug prevention and treatment program found in prisons around the world. The concept of T.C. is to segregate the inmates who request drug treatment or are court ordered to be in a drug treatment program from other inmates. The theory in the T.C. program is segregation from the rest of the prison population is necessary in order to keep the negative aspects of prison life away from the inmates who are in treatment as the prison atmosphere works against drug treatment in several different ways. During my research of drug abuse within the prison system, I interviewed a current male inmate confined in the Washington State Department of Corrections. His name is Jay.3 He is thirty-five years old and has been incarcerated for the past eleven years. When I asked him about the use of drugs within the prison system here is what he had to say:
Q. How many in institutions have you been in? A. I have been incarcerated in eight different institutions over the past eleven years.
Q. In your opinion is drug use and abuse a problem in America's prison system? A. No, I do not believe drug use and abuse is a problem in America's prison system. I don't condone the use of
First, I want to bring up some points from the Ted videos that stood out to me. - In 1972, 300,000 people were incarcerated compared to the 2.3 million today. - The U.S. is the only country that allows life in prison without parole for children as young as 13 years old. - 1 out of 9 people are exonerated from death row. - It is 11 times more likely to get death penalty is victim is white, than if he/she is black. - It is 22 times more likely to get the death penalty if defendant if black, than…
Abstract The War on Drugs, which took place during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, was an attempt to prohibit drug use and reduce illegal drug trade. The forefront leaders of this domestic war followed a “get-tough” policy and severely cracked down on drug offenders. IT was during this time that incarceration rates skyrocketed. The amount of US citizens incarcerated was unprecedented. Before the War on Crime occurred, America imprisoned around 100 to 200 people for every 100,000 citizens. Now, there…
Annotated Bibliography Women, drugs, crime, and prison: Do they really change? Ann Fields University of Phoenix Annotated Bibliography Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2009). Drug use and Crime. Retrieved from http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=352 This website gives clear and concise statistical information about women prisoners and crimes they have committed while under the influence of drugs or for drug related issues. This article will serve…
Prison Overcrowding Soc305: Crime & Society Instructor: Jodie Lawston March 2, 2015 Prison Overcrowding Emile Durkheim once said that crime is normal within a society. “Crime helps create and continually redefine the core norms and values of society, which will contribute to the social change as law are continually challenged and reassessed” (Collica & Furst, 2012). It is what happens after crimes are committed that creates a significant issue our criminal justice system faces. All criminals are…
Sergio Martinez Prison Population Mandate China’s overpopulation threatens the structure of their society. It is the leading driver of hunger, species extinction, and space overcrowding. In the United States, overpopulation in mainstream society is far from becoming a problem, but it is, and since the late 1980’s, has been a very intense issue in prison population, and today, California faces a mandate to reduce it by 10%. Historically, California has turned to short term solutions such as out-of-state…
Americans. Mandatory sentencing in nonviolent drug cases should be ended Roneshia Odom American Intercontinental University/Online Abstract This essay will show why mandatory sentencing need to be outlawed in bring a new pattern of laws that need to be place for these offenses even though the lawmakers making good intent but it costing the taxpayers millions of dollars and show how the prison population is growing plus how private prisons and other state government agencies making a great profit…
Effects of Prison Overcrowding on Penal Programs Introduction In America today the war on drugs is still being fought on a day to day basis. American society has gone to many extremes to combat this threat, from tougher laws to the formation of agencies such as the DEA. Even with all of this, is everything being done to the extent that the public wishes? According to the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring program, approximately 60 percent of all arrestees test positive for illicit drug use (ADAM…
are first screened when sent to prison. There are juvenile offenders, drug offenders, aging offenders, and mentally ill offenders. Not all offenders are alike. While they all require housing, meals, supervision, and productive activities, some groups require additional services or care (University of Phoenix, 2011). The way that many of the special needs, mentally ill, and serious substance abusing prisoners affect the jail and prison systems is not all prison facilities are set up to meet the…
“The ‘War on Drugs’ has been a failure” and argue in favour of reform as opposed to preserving the status quo. I also concede that there is no easy or guaranteed way to rid our world of its drug problems. Despite this, it must be realised that there are much more ethical and effective solutions to these problems than this futile war we wage. Peter Charleton’s “Drugs and Crime – Making the Connection: A Discussion Paper” is a paper that argues for preserving the status quo and keepings drugs criminalised…
the United States Failed War on Drugs Policy Hector Arreola SSCI 306 MWF 10:40-11:50 AM March 14, 2012 Abstract The “War on Drugs” policy has been the approach by the United States to protect citizens from the harmful effects of illegal drugs. The article examines the failures of the war on drug policy has had on society, such as, increasing violence, increasing the prison population, increased spending…
