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Low Level Drug Offenders

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America's prisons are overpopulated and the population is growing each year with increased drug activities. Low level drug offenders, comprised of 39 percent of the overall prison population. In the article " Department of Justice low-level drug offenders: a defense perspective" defines low-level drug offender as one who has been convicted drug trafficking offense but has no prior commitment, history of violence, known involvement of sophisticated criminal activity, significant "public risk factor," and pending detainer (Katz 28) . This group isn't hardened criminals and don't live a life of crime; rather they are motivated by profit. They are less likely to return to prison when compared to hardened criminals. The length of drug sentences …show more content…

They are less likely to return if low level drug offenders receive treatment during and after prison. Olson and Lurigion state ,"Drug addiction is a chronic relapse brain disease with biological, psychological, social and behavioral concomitants"(600). If a drug criminal is treated for his addiction, he/she will be less likely to commit crimes. The treatment has to be comprehensive and provide a wide range of treatment (Olsen and Lurigion (601) Many professions believe treatment is more effective than incarceration for several months. They are also using drug courts to have more effective punishments. The government, administrators, families and individual drug criminals all have different ways to reduce crime with treatment centers and incarceration. Some treat the addiction, or have programs to make low level drug criminals …show more content…

The government and administrators of prisons and treatment centers are trying to lower the cost of incarceration and treatment centers. Treatment centers are the more expensive option but it last longer and has more permanent effects in low level drug criminals. The family and individual want the easiest option that helps them or their children to treat their addiction. They want to use treatment centers to treat the addiction to prevent them crime again.
The effectiveness of prisons and treatment centers vary. Many of the prisoners who participate in prison sponsored programs are more likely to return. The government and administrators believe prison is the best option to better rehabilitate them into the general public. Treatment centers and drug courts are the preferred way to rehabilitate for families, individuals and some of the government. Statistics show that low level drug criminals in treatment centers are less likely to commit crimes than those who were treated in

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