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Drug abuse and crime
Essays on prison and treatment of substance misues
Drug use and prison introduction
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Recidivism and Addiction Too many people are spending time in prison because of an addiction; experience and common sense also dictate that a large percent of these recidivists are addicts whose crimes stem from their addictions. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, released prisoners with the highest re-arrest rates were robbers (70.2%), burglars (74.0%), larcenist (74.6%), motor vehicle thieves (78.8%) and possessing or selling stolen property (77.4%) A conservative estimate is that some 67% of state prisoners have such a problem. In another study it was found that the number of inmates returning to state prison within three years of release has remained steady for more than a decade. Strong indicators that prison systems are failing to deter criminals from re-offending. Watching a family member or loved one struggle with addiction can be very difficult, however watching that same person spend the majority of their life in and out of prison because of their addiction can be heart breaking and tragic for both them and all connected to them. Recidivism, the return rate to prison with or with out a new criminal charge or conviction, is highly impacted by drug and alcohol addiction and the crimes associated with it. Some points to consider might also be, the lack of effective treatment while incarcerated and upon release, being paroled to the original environment, and over coming the stigmatism held by the parole officer, society, and the parolees that they have little chance to recover and become productive members of society. Attending recovery classes while incarcerated is limited and generally looked upon as an escape from a prison cell. Most inmates use recovery programs while incarcerated as a distractio... ... middle of paper ... ...rime adds to the ever-enclosing dark cloud that can surround one who is struggling with addiction and past behaviors. Possibly leading to a return to those very habits and eventually a return to prison. Watching anyone struggle with addiction is indeed difficult, and being connected personally may be even more so. Loosing family or loved ones, and friends to addiction and eventually jail or possibly death can be devastating. The effects are wide spread and touch many lives often felt very deeply for a long time, some for a lifetime. What can be done to help these people, to assist the families and society is ever evolving. This group of addicted offenders should be targeted for intensive and rigorous treatment. Courts and prosecutors have increasingly been making an effort to identify such addicts, and to induce them to enter into criminal justice based treatment.
Within our society, there is a gleaming stigma against the drug addicted. We have been taught to believe that if someone uses drugs and commits a crime they should be locked away and shunned for their lifetime. Their past continues to haunt them, even if they have changed their old addictive ways. Everyone deserves a second chance at life, so why do we outcast someone who struggles with this horrible disease? Drug addiction and crime can destroy lives and rip apart families. Drug courts give individuals an opportunity to repair the wreckage of their past and mend what was once lost. Throughout this paper, I will demonstrate why drug courts are more beneficial to an addict than lengthy prison sentences.
Once these individuals in rehab serve there sentence the majority of them, won’t look straight to the next opportunity to get high, but the next opportunity for a better future after being encouraged in rehab to accomplish something in life, compared to someone’s attitude coming out of prison. One story involved a man named Richard with his wife Marcia. She was an addict who was often jailed for it, but Anthony believed like many others that “addiction can be overcome with proper help. He believed that the solution was to get her into a mental hospital [and] get her whatever she needs – Xanax, morphine, to get her chemical imbalance right. Show her some respect. (114)” Give her some working skills, so once she gets out she is capable of being successful but instead she kept getting “kicked down the steps” by the criminal justice system. The jailing and torture of addicts is routine to people serving cases for drug related offenses, who are often not built to endure prison, let alone jail. “The Justice Department estimates that 216,000 people are raped in these prisons every year. (This is the number of rapes, not the number of rapes – that is much higher.) (109)” This is ultimately shows the simple fact that many people are not built to endure
For the extensive amount of information collected Bourgeois and Schonberg’s research was as detailed as it could be. This study is perfect for many educators, hospital and clinic staff, community members and for anyone that has compassion for righteous dopefiends. Punishing those that struggle with a disease will not rehabilitate on their own. Therefore, these issues affect society as a whole and the wellbeing of the addicted population should no longer be ostracized.
Throughout this paper one will come to understand recidivisim and why those who are more likely to recidivate
Substance abuse is a grim issue that affects the Canadian inmate population; it can be defined as overindulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance, especially alcohol or drugs. Within Canada, 80% of offenders entering the federal prison system are identified as having a substance abuse problem; this goes beyond mere indication of tougher drug legislation, it uncovers further discrepancy. Due to the immense majority of offenders affected by this complex mental illness, in addition to varied levels of individual cognitive ability. Consequently, conventional abstinence-based treatment methods may not benefit all offenders. Untreated, this dynamic risk factor precursor’s future offending, as a study reveals dependency on illegal drugs is the single most serious risk for repeated offending.
The purpose of Drug Court is to address addiction/ substance use problems of criminal defendants through an intense supervision treatment program and develop productive, healthy members of society, rather than criminals. Offenders who remain incarcerated may or may not get the help or intervention they need. In many cases, the help they do receive is often limited depending on the facility or jurisdiction they are in. However, more and more correctional facilities are focusing on addiction and substance use and abuse rehabilitation and treatment programs. An excellent example of a program in a correctional facility and something, a tool, that Drug Court uses as a sanction is a program at Henrico County’s Jail East called
The consequences that follow the use of any drug are unfavorable. Although many individuals may see drug addiction as a mere lifestyle choice, it is a problem that many individuals suffer from and inevitably a growing issue that leaves major social and economic impacts.
Prison can not only be a place where people go to get punished, but it can also be a place that serves as a rehab treatment center. In a prison setting, the likelihood of an inmate being exposed to drugs or illegal substances is greatly diminished. Treatment facilities are becoming popular in American prisons, as they have increasingly been shown to be effective. Regardless of whether treatment is received in prison or in a spa, the treatment programs are similarly
Because most employers are unwilling to hire anyone with a criminal record, a parolee may return to crime in an attempt to avoid financial ruin. The parole system has created a vicious cycle where crime only leads to more crime. From 1960 to 1969 the average number of robberies per year in Ohio was 6,364. From 1970 to 1979 the average amount of robberies jumped up to 19,066 per year and continues to escalate. This sudden increase in crime was simultaneous to incarceration rate’s exponential growth (Disaster Center; Prison Policy Initiative).
These are just some of the things that do not receive support and are more prone to relapse behavior than those in recovery programs. There are many ways to lower or prevent recidivism. Released prisoners need to comprehend that the prison life is not the only option for them. There are so many options and treatments that could be successful if they would only keep an open mind and are aware of what’s out there. During their time in prison they do not get to choose where they live or what kind of job they are assigned to. They need to try to live a better life when they get out, not just for the people around them, but for themselves and their families. They can move forward if they would just follow the simple rules, take advantage of the resources or programs that is being provided to them. Many courts are in forcing drug and alcohol treatment to reduce recidivism rate to try to break a pattern of habits. The treatment consist of them attending classes which offers substance treatment services for some period of the day and return home each evening until the next treatment unfortunately many of them refuse to continue to attend the treatments and relapse into criminal behavior. The community and prisons do what they can to help and provide inmates to adjust to life, but in reality; it’s really up to them if they really want to make the
...ue, rather than as a criminal activity that deserves punishment, would be more effective in preventing people from relapsing into drug use by showing them the support they need to fight their drug addiction.
In many counties especially the U.S, substance abuse is a major problem that affects the majority of the prison population. The same problem persists when the offenders are released. Chances of re-addiction are high and likely to shoot the rates of recidivism up. This menace often poses oth...
Attention Getter – Let’s say that you made a mistake. Let’s say that you tried something one time out of curiosity and have not been able to stop doing it ever since. Imagine if this mistake you made was taking an illegal, addictive drug such as heroin. Now picture yourself in prison due to your addiction, without any option to get treatment.
Perhaps most substance abuse starts in the teen years when young people are susceptible to pressure from their peers. One of the main concerns when dealing with substance abuse is the long term problems with substance such as addiction, dependency and tolerance. The physical state of an individual, who is addicted to a substance, will deteriorate over a long period of time. This is due to the chemicals that are being put into an individual body. One of the most important aspects of the effect of substance abuse on society includes ill health, disease, sickness, and in many cases death. The impact of substance abuse not only affects individuals who abuse substances but it affects our economy. Our government resources are negatively impacted by individual who abuse substances. According to (Lagliaro 2004) the implication of drug users extend far beyond the user, often damaging their relationships with their family, community, and health workers, volunteer and wider
Drug addiction is a very big problem in today’s society. Many people have had their lives ruined due to drug addiction. The people that use the drugs don’t even realize that they have an addiction. They continue to use the drug not even realizing that their whole world is crashing down around them. Drug addicts normally lose their family and friends due to drug addiction.