It s Time For Re Think Mandatory Minimums - 1607 Words

It’s Time to Re-think Mandatory Minimums During the mid-1980’s an epidemic of cocaine and crack swept the nation leaving many wondering what could be done to eliminate this problem that reached everywhere from small town middle America to the larger metropolitan areas. It has always been the common acceptance that by putting more offenders in jail, crime statistics will decrease. This belief led congress to enact the anti-drug abuse act of 1986. At first, it was believed that this seemed to work, due to there being a â€Å"5% drop in crime in the 1990’s† (Chettiar). While according to various newer statistics that have tracked these changes since the early 1980’s, these mandatory minimums may have no bearing on the decline in crime. In fact, there are many theories on this ranging from the â€Å"Abortion filter† to the trendiest: â€Å"The lead hypothesis â€Å" (Goldstein). There is no argument about whether or not offenders get punished if you break the law; it has become an argument of how offenders are sentenced. First time nonviolent offenders should be penalized by some means, although it ought to be proportionate to the crime. â€Å"Jailing nonviolent offenders as the first option actually is counterproductive in many cases and can lead to more serious crime† (Levin). There are many alternatives to jail or prison for a nonviolent offender, prosecutors must get past their internment ratio, and have more confidence on the other options to jail such as drug rehabilitation, work programs, andShow MoreRelatedCrime Is A Post Racial Nation894 Words   |  4 PagesIt s a stark fact that the United States has less than 5 percent of the world s population, yet we have almost 25 percent of the world s total prison population. The numbers today are much higher than they were 30, 40 years ago despite the fact that crime is at historic lows. -Hillary Rodham Clinton April 29, 2015 In 2015, in the US, 2.3 million people were incarcerated. Of that population, nearly one million were African American. According to the NAACP, thirty-two percent of those arrestedRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline1232 Words   |  5 PagesI. Attention A. Attention Grabber: In this moment in time, the United States has only 5 percent of the world s population, but holds 25 percent of the world s prisoners, this is costing the country approximately $80 billion dollars per year. B. Tie to Audience: From your point of view, you might think that keeping all the law violators behind bars is a positive thing because it enhances public safety, but you should take a look on how incarcerating people impacts families and the nation’s economyRead MoreThe Incarceration Rate Of The United States1543 Words   |  7 PagesAlternatives to Mass Incarceration Once upon a time, Americans could proudly say that America was the land of freedom and opportunity. As the Pledge of Allegiance states, â€Å"One nation under God, Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.† However, under the current criminal justice system, more and more people lose their liberties because of the crimes they have committed. According to Roy Walmsley, a consultant of the United Nations and Associate of the International Center for prison studiesRead MoreCriminal Justice Policy And Planning4719 Words   |  19 Pagesand Objectives 8 Stakeholders for Mandatory Minimum Sentences 8 Stakeholders against Mandatory Minimum Sentences 8 Impact Model 9 Designing the Program 10 Program Implementation and Monitoring 11 Developmental Implementation Programs Offered 11 Implementation Plan Phase I 2011-2012 12 Implementation Plan Phase II 2012-2013 13 Implementation Plan Phase III 2013-2014 14 Conclusion 16 Bibliography 17 Executive Summary Mandatory Minimum Sentences Criminals and how theyRead MoreAmeric Land Of The Incarcerated1296 Words   |  6 Pagesgovernments such as Russia or China come to mind when one thinks about countries that have strict criminal codes that punish offenders with extreme prison sentences. Shockingly, the United States has the world’s highest incarceration rate of 716 prisoners per 100,000 citizens compared to the average country of 144 prisoners per 100,000 (Walmsley 2013) that equates to the probability of being incarcerated in the United States is five times more likely than the average country. In addition, there areRead MoreCrime Control Model Vs. Due Process Model Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pagescommit crime are held responsible and society is given justice. The crime control model focuses on setting aside guidelines for every citizen to follow. The crime control model was developed by the late Herbert Packer, and began its use in the late 1900’s. This model focuses on swift arrest, prosecution, and conviction of criminals. Individuals whom agree with the crime control model believe if the swift prosecution and conviction of a criminal is not done then we leading to destruction of public orderRead MoreRacial Bias Toward The Black Community1518 Words   |  7 Pagespolice and incarceration systems. From traffic stops to America’s prison population to mandatory minimums, racism is prevalent in every facet of America’s â€Å"domestic security† apparatus. Facing harsher punishment, 1 in 3 black men will go to prison and receive a 10% longer sentence than their white counterpart. Cocaine and Crack Cocaine are virtually the same substance but with vastly different mandatory minimum sentences. Cocaine is inhaled through the nasal cavity and Crack Cocaine is smoked withRead MoreJuveniles Being Tried As Adults1238 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Juveniles Being Tried as Adults† There are articles or news reports every once and a while about juveniles committed heinous crimes, but not serving any real time for the crime. Juveniles or even adults should not serve a few years for murder or rape. Murderers, rapists and other criminals are being released from jail every day after serving only very short sentences for their heinous crimes. (Source #1) Who are these criminals and what makes them so special? The criminals are juveniles who commitRead MoreSentencing Of A Jail Or Prison Sentence1598 Words   |  7 PagesDeterminate Sentence is a jail or prison sentence that you cannot change its definite. But offenders are allowed to be released after they have served their time. Determinate sentences were almost exclusively used throughout the eighteenth century and it was believed that judges were the best people to determine the amount of time needed to punish the offender and to deter them from further crimes. Judges were granted the power to determine sentencin g also took much discretion away from the judgesRead MoreCan Welfare Actually Be Harmful?1555 Words   |  7 Pagesentitlement trap and while doing so help reduce the nation’s debt? Let’s look at the history of the U. S. welfare system. When did poor people begin to rely on the government for their basic necessities? Although the United States fought hard for its independence from Great Britain, in its early years, it adopted the British Poor Laws which assisted the less fortunate. The U. S. welfare system today continues to aid needy citizens, including the elderly, disabled and those who are