As we look for ways to save money in these hard economic times, we would be hard pressed to find a better way then reforming our penal system and our antiquated drug laws.
The billions in dollars thus far spent to stop drugs from reaching us would be far better spent in cost effective drug treatment programs. De criminalizing drugs wuld have a similar effect to the repeal of prohibition. Violent crime, at an all time high during prohibition, dropped drastically once it was repealed. And it is well known that drinking continued, as does drug use, regardless of the legal status of the substance.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that, “Drug treatment programs in prisons can succeed in preventing patients’ return to criminal behavior.” Over $67 billion per year is the cost to society, excluding the costs of the war on drugs. The cost of welfare, police responding to drug related crimes, and incarceration are that high. According to NIDA, upwars of $7.00 is saved by spending just $1.00 on treatment. And the success rates for the best programs are upwards of 50%. With new research and development in the areas of genetic markers and treatments for substance abuse, the rates will go much higher than that.
The fact of 1in 4 young black men having been incarcerated, is a well known statistic. 12% of black men in their twenties are currently behind bars. Why, then, with so many of our citizens off the streets, is America’s crime rate higher than other industrialized nations?
According to Katarina Ivenko, writing for “Correction Today” April 1997, “Research data has shown no correlation between the incidence of crime and the rate of incarceration.” So, despite America’s uniquely high level of incarceration, crime has actually gone up, not down as would be expected. Obviously, punishment does not work. 55% of all federal prisoners are doing time for drug related offenses stopthedrugwar.org. The vast majority of these are non violent. While violent and property crimes have been steadily going down, the rate of incarceration has been going up. Drug arrests account for this.
A NY Times editorial articulated the wave of drug violence that has beset Mexico, especially on the border region nytimes, October 20, 2008. It has become so out of control, that schoolchildren are now witnesses to the carnage right across form their schools. With no end in sight there have been 3,700 drug related killings so far. A 1,000 person increase over last year. The effect on Mexico’s children alone should be enough to spur us to action. The gruesome, mutilated condition of the bodies, on display for all to see, and in such great numbers, is causing the children to become accustomed to this violence. The next step is acceptance of it as a natural part of life. Do we want a generation of children inured and accepting of tortuous violence right across the border? When one society’s fabric is destroyed, it has ramifications for others’.
If we take drugs out of the hands of criminals, it can be better regualted and treated by various agencies of the medical establishment. The money saved on all aspects of our war on drugs could be much better spent on drug treatment, education, job training and healthcare for the poor. But to bring this up in an election year would be pure folly. If pro choice advocates are labelled baby killers, imaging what proponents of this commonsensical approach to drugs would be labelled. “Drug pushers” would be just the start.
What do you think of de criminalizing drugs?
Do you believe punishment works to reduce crime?
Should we put more emphasis on rehabilitation, job training, and treatment, or should we emphasize a tough stance in the prisons to deter recidivism?
UCC Honors: Blogging the '08 Election 