Benefits Of Prison In Prison

982 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effective rehabilitation programs in prison

Each year the U.S spends billions of dollars to keep federal inmates behind bars. Nearly half of these federal inmates are convicted of drug abuse, and a vast majority of the ones convicted are low-level nonviolent criminals. Keeping these low-level criminals in jail is expensive, and it’s not very helpful because many of them end up going back to jail with higher drug charges. We as a society need to recognize that addiction is worthy of medical help and not just a crime that deserves punishment. Hey, I’m tori smith and today I 'm going to discuss the benefits of using a rehab facility instead of jail for these criminals. a. Before I can start I must go back to when this all began. On May 8, 1973, the “Rockefeller drug laws” were adopted. These are the …show more content…

Through the years the mandatory sentencing for drug offenders has lowered to at least 10 years it varies by the state. Even though it 's shorter than previous years it is still a long time to send someone to jail without a guaranteed promise that they will get better in the end. On Prison police.org website it is quoted that “two decades after the enactment of the mandatory sentences, these laws have failed to deter people from using or selling drugs. c. This is because many substance abusers are addicted to the drugs and even though you send them away when they are free they still may be addicted so they end up relapsing back into the same issues. so now the big question is “How is sending criminals to rehab more money conscious than jail?” II. As I said before America spends billions of dollars to keep up with the growing number of inmates in federal prisons. According to rehab-international.org if only 10 percent of drug abuse offenders went to rehab instead of jail. The U.S would save 4.8 billion dollars now this is a big difference compared to their current costs. a. And if 40 percent of offenders would be eligible for this treatment then we would scrape off a total of 13 billion we

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Drug Courts Vs. Incarceration

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Prop. 36 The Real Truth

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    As you might already be aware there is a ballot initiative on this upcoming November’s election about drugs, and drug treatment. This measure is called Proposition 36. If this measure were to pass, state law would be changed, so that certain non-violent adult offenders who use or possess illegal drugs would receive drug treatment and supervision in the community, not prison. Right now California is ranked number one in the nation for its rate of imprisonment for drug offenders. If Proposition 36 passes, California could become number one for its treatment for drug offenders. The measure also provides state funds to counties to operate the drug treatment programs. Additionally, studies have shown that drug treatment is a far more effective than prison in reducing future criminal activity. Robert Roseman, a 51-year-old heroin addict from Sacramento says, “I was always able to get drugs in prison…all you’re going to learn in prison is to do crime better.”

    Read More

  • Addiction In Chasing The Scream

    1408 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Diversion Programs Vs Incarceration Essay

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    In recent years, there has been controversy over mass incarceration rates within the United States. In the past, the imprisonment of criminals was seen as the most efficient way to protect citizens. However, as time has gone on, crime rates have continued to increase exponentially. Because of this, many people have begun to propose alternatives that will effectively prevent criminals from merely repeating their illegal actions. Some contend that diversion programs, such as rehabilitation treatment for drug offenders, is a more practical solution than placing mentally unstable individuals into prison.

    Read More

  • Prison Based Drug Treatment Programs and There Effects

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    The purpose of this paper is to inform about effect the drug treatment programs in prison are and who they affect the most. The programs are meant to for re-offenders with an extensive drug record. Some of the questions the researchers asked was how well do the programs work for the inmates, who does it effect, and does different drugs affect the programs. In 2002 there was 250 prison based drug treatment programs in 40 states. In 2004 the number went up to 290 treatment programs in 44 states. (Farebee et al. 1999) The main focus of the programs are to help inmates so they do not reoffend once released from prison. Drug treatment programs help the different inmates by using different programs.

    Read More

  • Legalizing Marijuana Will Decreased Crime

    1426 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, legalization will be profitable to global economies in two ways. It will allow for money spent on drug law enforcement to be spent more wisely and will increase revenue. There have been escalating costs spent on the war against drugs and countless dollars spent on rehabilitation. Every year in the United States, ten billion dollars are spent on enforcing drug laws alone. Drug violators accounted for about forty percent of all criminals in federal prisons (Rosenthal 1996).

    Read More

  • Drug Policy

    1001 Words  | 3 Pages

    The President proposed an increase of $100.6 million in 2005 for substance abuse and drug treatment systems, such as clinical treatment or recovery services. Another anticipated budget increase is for drug court programs. With more monies, the extent and value of drug court services will increase. These programs are options to imprisonment with the goal of being drug-free.

    Read More

  • Current Issues in the Correctional System

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    The “Tough on Crime” and “War on Drugs” policies of the 1970s – 1980s have caused an over populated prison system where incarceration is policy and assistance for prevention was placed on the back burner. As of 2005, a little fewer than 2,000 prisoners are being released every day. These individuals have not gone through treatment or been properly assisted in reentering society. This has caused individuals to reenter the prison system after only a year of being release and this problem will not go away, but will get worst if current thinking does not change. This change must be bigger than putting in place some under funded programs that do not provide support. As the current cost of incarceration is around $30,000 a year per inmate, change to the system/procedure must prevent recidivism and the current problem of over-crowed prisons.

    Read More

  • Prison Sentencing Reform

    303 Words  | 1 Pages

    Prison sentences should be reduced by proposing a sentencing reform. First, the U.S has the highest incarceration rates in the world. According to CQ Researcher, 98% of prisoners are incarcerated for nonviolent offenses; in fact, these prisoners majorly affiliate with drug violations. Criminal justice expert Jeremy Travis stated, "We've lost some of the constraints we used to place on the state to deprive somebody of liberty." A good example of this would involve Weldon Angelos, and He's an individual who is serving 55 years for three marijuana sales, which were in a value of $350. For such a low-level drug offense and no criminal history, His sentence is considered "extraordinary injustice" (CQ). Second, prison maintenance is very expensive.

    Read More

  • Substance Abuse Treatment Paper

    895 Words  | 2 Pages

    This is where the correction system needs to be improved and why I want to become a counselor for the addicted public. The need is obviously out there for the individual to assist in helping the addicted public in our prison system. Without the people in the correct jobs, there is no way changes can be made. In addition, drug-using offenders are at higher risk for infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis and frequently have psychiatric disorders, which highlight the need for treatment of this population. Not treating a drug abuser is a missed opportunity to simultaneously improve both public health and safety. Integrating treatment in the criminal justice system would provide treatment to individuals who otherwise would not receive it, improving their medical outcomes and decreasing their rates of

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: Suffering Drug Addictions To Prison?

    1635 Words  | 4 Pages

    Suffering from an addiction is punishment enough, sending drug addicts to jail is not the solution. Addicts are suffering already by not having a place to stay. Most of the time addicts do not remember where their family is located at and they need help to get better.That is why I am saying that addicts should go to rehab instead of prison.

    Read More

  • Incarceration Rates

    988 Words  | 2 Pages

    In nineteen eighty, roughly seventy seven dollars was spent by United States residents on cost for inmates, in 2013, it was reported that number went up to nearly two hundred and sixty dollars per person in the United States. It is found that nearly two thirds of these outrageous costs are for security and inmate health care. Since 2001, the average annual cost has increased by about $19,500, this includes an increase of $8,300 for inmate health and $7,000 for security. Charitable Trust found that forty four states in the United States spent 6.5 billion dollars on health care for inmates in 2008. Studies show that in California alone, it cost nearly forty seven thousand dollars a year to incarcerate an inmate. Prisons do need some money, however, these high levels of income spent on inmates takes away from things such as education and methods to reduce the rates of crime. The total cost to taxpayers is 39 billion dollars. Although many states and the country as a whole are still dealing with these high cost and incarceration rates, they are working to fix these problems all while keeping the public’s safety in

    Read More

  • Essay On The Effectiveness Of Prison

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    Those that live a criminal lifestyle are more willing than others to accept jail time as a punishment. So, no matter how long? When looking at methods of punishment in other countries, one can deduce that they are successful in their ways. There could possibly be something that the United States is missing or have yet to figure the system out.

    Read More

  • Interpersonal Conflict In Prison

    1049 Words  | 3 Pages

    In America there is an ever growing conflict of whether convicted drug offenders should be incarcerated and/or offer rehabilitation services. In my life I have been an addict and a convict, so this particular topic is very important to me. The conflict is within society and within the individual that is dealing with conflict. This research will show how simple incarceration without treatment is detrimental to society and the individual when returning to society.

    Read More

  • Benefits Of Prison Rehabilitation

    1451 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The vast majority of ex-prisoners lack job skills, education, self-confidence and social supporters. Some face the additional challenges of mental illness and addiction” (Moriarty). Not enough programs are available, due to this prisoners are leaving without the proper rehabilitation to be successful when attempting to re-enter society. There is not enough of a noticed need to rehabilitate our prisoners because they have committed crimes and are locked up in a prison as result. Research has shown there are cost-effective ways of rehabilitating and transitioning prisoners back into society, preparing them for their release (Moriarty). If the United States decided to take other countrys routes for rehabilitation compared to their current choice. It would cut the cost per prisoner rate, while preparing the prisoners to re-enter society. Making opportunities available for those who do not plan on returning. Addiction and mental illness contribute to felons returning to prison once again. Many prisoners do not have access to the addiction and mental health treatment that are needed for their rehabilitation. Which affects the long-term health outcome of the prisoners (Fiscella). The failure of doing this adds toward the problems. Making this a priority would decrease the number of prisoners that become recidivisms. Cutting down the overall cost for the United States economy. “Rather than preventing deaths from opioid overdose jails and prisoners contribute to deaths when they fail to adequately treat opioid use disorder pre-release” (Fiscella). There needs to be actions taken in order to make an impact. Too many prisoners have to suffer after release due to the prison system failing to adequately prepare prisoners for release. Lack of opportunity after release leads to citizen re-entering prison, many do not wish to

    Read More

More about Benefits Of Prison In Prison

Open Document