Social Consequences of the War on Drugs: the Legacy of Failed Policy

Jensen, Eric L. N.; Gerber, Jurg; Mosher, Clayton

doi:10.1177/0887403403255315

Cited by 61 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…These numbers are staggering—approximately 7.1 million adults in the United States are under some form of criminal justice supervision 1. The large increase in the criminal justice population reflects in part tougher laws and penalties for drug offenses 2. An estimated one-half of all prisoners (including some sentenced for other than drug offenses) meet the criteria for diagnosis of drug abuse or dependence (Table 1).…”

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confidence: 99%

Treating Drug Abuse and Addiction in the Criminal Justice System

Chandler¹,

Fletcher²,

Volkow³

2009

JAMA

492

389

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Despite increasing evidence that addiction is a treatable disease of the brain, most individuals do not receive treatment. Involvement in the criminal justice system often results from illegal drug-seeking behavior and participation in illegal activities that reflect, in part, disrupted behavior ensuing from brain changes triggered by repeated drug use. Treating drug-involved offenders provides a unique opportunity to decrease substance abuse and reduce associated criminal behavior. Emerging neuroscience has the potential to transform traditional sanction-oriented public safety approaches by providing new therapeutic strategies against addiction that could be used in the criminal justice system. We summarize relevant neuroscientific findings and evidence-based principles of addiction treatment that, if implemented in the criminal justice system, could help improve public heath and reduce criminal behavior.The past 20 years have seen significant increases in the numbers of individuals incarcerated or under other forms of criminal justice supervision in the United States. These numbers are staggering-approximately 7.1 million adults in the United States are under some form of criminal justice supervision. 1 The large increase in the criminal justice population reflects in part tougher laws and penalties for drug offenses. 2 An estimated one-half of all prisoners (including some sentenced for other than drug offenses) meet the criteria for diagnosis of drug abuse or dependence (Table 1). 3,4During the past 20 years, fundamental advances in the neurobiology of addiction have been made. Molecular and imaging studies have revealed addiction as a brain disorder with a strong genetic component, and this has galvanized research on new pharmacological treatments. However, a large disconnect remains between addiction research and the treatment of addiction in general, particularly within the criminal justice system. This is evidenced in that most prisoners (80%-85%) who could benefit from drug abuse treatment do not receive it. 3,4 In addition, drug-using offenders are at high risk for infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C 5 and frequently have co-morbid psychiatric disorders, 6,7 which further highlights the dire treatment needs of this population.Not treating a drug-abusing offender is a missed opportunity to simultaneously improve both public health and safety. Integrating treatment into the criminal justice system would provide treatment to individuals who otherwise would not receive it, improving their medical outcomes and decreasing their rates of reincarceration. 8 Recidivism in the Drug-Abusing OffenderThe inadequacy of incarceration by itself in addressing drug abuse or addiction is evident in the statistics. A review of recidivism in 15 states found that one-quarter of individuals released returned to prison within 3 years for technical violations that included, among other things, testing positive for drug use. 9 Illicit drugs are used in jails and prisons despite...

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confidence: 99%

Treating Drug Abuse and Addiction in the Criminal Justice System

Chandler¹,

Fletcher²,

Volkow³

2009

JAMA

492

389

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Many accounts of the war on drugs emphasize the role of public sentiment in influencing several policy decisions made during the 1980s (Jensen, Gerber, & Mosher, 2004). Although the idea that criminal justice agencies are swayed by pluralism is comforting to a lesser extent, it does not solve the problem of what is revealed within the context of these analyses.…”

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confidence: 98%

Are Minority Areas Disproportionately Targeted for Halfway House Placement?

Costanza

Kilburn

Vendetti-Koski

2013

Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice

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The geographic placement of halfway houses is an important issue in the field of community corrections. Much research has underscored the social justice issues involved with the subsidization and placement of halfway houses within certain communities. A commonly held belief is that state and local governments actively target lower socioeconomic status, minority communities for the placement of houses, as residents have little power to resist. This article uses data collected on Connecticut towns from 2000 to 2008 andreveals that state-subsidized halfway houses are significantly more likely to be sited in non-White communities with high index crime rates.

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“…Academics have also widely acknowledged the failure of the 'war on drugs' (Wisotsky 1986; Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs 1988; Gray 2001;Jensen 2004).…”

Section: The Focus Of Policingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Conceptualising and combating transnational environmental crime

Wright

2011

Trends Organ Crim

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To date, transnational environmental crime has been poorly attended to by the transnational organised crime and transnational policing discourse. Academics have focused on individual elements of environmental crime, neglecting a broader theoretical discussion, while national and international institutions have prioritised other forms of organised crime, giving little thought to the nuanced nature of transnational environmental crime and how this should be reflected in policing and countermeasures. This paper attempts to rectify this by conceptualising transnational environmental crime and suggesting ways forward for countermeasure development. The paper will begin by looking at the problem of environmental crime, its value, scope and effects, concluding that the damaging nature of transnational environmental crime demands a greater focus on its policing. The nature of transnational environmental crime will then be discussed by reference to traditional forms of organised crime. It will be argued that, while transnational environmental crime is a form of organised crime, and has some features in common with the traditional organised crimes, such as drug smuggling and people trafficking, it is the substantial differences that should guide the approach to developing countermeasures. The development of effective countermeasures, it is concluded, requires a significant change in policy at every level.

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Social Consequences of the War on Drugs: the Legacy of Failed Policy

Cited by 61 publications

References 20 publications

Treating Drug Abuse and Addiction in the Criminal Justice System

Treating Drug Abuse and Addiction in the Criminal Justice System

Are Minority Areas Disproportionately Targeted for Halfway House Placement?

Conceptualising and combating transnational environmental crime

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