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Author
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Topic: should non-violent drug offenders go to prison?
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aquaguy91
Moderator Posts: 4272
From: tennessee
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted September 03, 2012 11:05 PM
  
what are your thoughts on this issue? stastics show that a large percentage of people incarcerated in america's prison system are non-violent drug offenders and some are getting lengthy sentences, my dad is in federal prison serving a 15 year sentence for his first offense, I personally think its ridiculous. I personally think putting them through intensive rehab and putting them on probation would be cheaper and more effective than locking them in a cage for years. IP: Logged |
sand
Knowflake Posts: 6610
From:
Registered: May 2011
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posted September 03, 2012 11:10 PM
i think addiction is a sickness not a crime. but pushers yeah i'd lock them up. hell y not just kill them so we don't clog the cells.  kidding!IP: Logged |
aquaguy91
Moderator Posts: 4272
From: tennessee
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted September 03, 2012 11:17 PM
that's messed up, because I'm pretty sure they do that in texas sometimes.IP: Logged |
sand
Knowflake Posts: 6610
From:
Registered: May 2011
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posted September 03, 2012 11:22 PM
what kill them? really? IP: Logged |
aquaguy91
Moderator Posts: 4272
From: tennessee
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted September 03, 2012 11:32 PM
I'm not sure, I'm pretty sure I was reading about it somewhere, but now I can't find it.maybe I'm mistaken.IP: Logged |
cathy
Knowflake Posts: 219
From: canada
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted September 04, 2012 01:41 AM
Aquaguy, I agree with you, giving them lenghthy prison sentences is'nt the answer.
I'm sorry about your dad.IP: Logged |
RedScorp
Knowflake Posts: 3408
From: GMT-5
Registered: Jul 2011
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posted September 04, 2012 01:50 AM
I think that addiction is a sickness too, but a crime is a crime. 15 years is incredibly long though. What's he charged with?IP: Logged |
Lonake
Moderator Posts: 8708
From:
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted September 04, 2012 04:14 AM
No they shouldn't go to prison.
And the prison system needs to be overhauled it's a mess.IP: Logged |
RegardesPlatero
Moderator Posts: 4095
From: Storybrooke, Mr. Gold's Shop
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted September 04, 2012 06:20 AM
I think that non-violent people who can be rehabilitated successfully should be: not everyone can be fixed, but some can. As for whether or not drug users/pushers should go to jail, I feel torn. On the one hand, there are worse crimes out there. On the other hand, though, drugs lead to violent crimes (like people who kill each other over drug money/gangs). Maybe a compromise would be best: prison (how long, and whether or not a person goes to jail at all) depends on the nature of the offense, how many prior offenses the person has, etc. The people who most need to be behind bars are violent criminals (including sex offenders and animal abusers), who are very dangerous. Every time I hear about one of them getting a plea bargain, it makes me so angry. IP: Logged |
YoursTrulyAlways
Knowflake Posts: 3851
From:
Registered: Oct 2011
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posted September 04, 2012 09:42 AM
Not trying to be mean.I'm truly sorry for your dad, and full respect is accorded. There isn't such a thing as non-violent. All drug users are complicit in the crap that is associated with the delivery of the product to their doorstep. This is America. Believe it or not, the penalties in America are very lenient. Where I was from, all drug users are executed. The rare exception is life imprisonment, which is probably worse because there is no parole. As the penalties are that harsh, there is no drug problem. The public doesn't care because most of the public has no inclination to use drugs. IP: Logged |
aquaguy91
Moderator Posts: 4272
From: tennessee
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted September 04, 2012 09:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by YoursTrulyAlways:
Not trying to be mean.I'm truly sorry for your dad, and full respect is accorded. There isn't such a thing as non-violent. All drug users are complicit in the crap that is associated with the delivery of the product to their doorstep. This is America. Believe it or not, the penalties in America are very lenient. Where I was from, all drug users are executed. The rare exception is life imprisonment, which is probably worse because there is no parole. As the penalties are that harsh, there is no drug problem. The public doesn't care because most of the public has no inclination to use drugs.
its not true that all drug addicts are violent. but that's what the propaganda would have you believe. I'm not saying we should just let them roam free, but we should actually try to rehabilitate them first and if their problem continues then we can talk prison time. but locking up first time non violent drug offenders doesn't do anybody any good. in fact it makes the problem worse. because once a person gets out of prison they are rejected by society and can't find a job, so they have to get back into the drug trade to survive.
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YoursTrulyAlways
Knowflake Posts: 3851
From:
Registered: Oct 2011
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posted September 04, 2012 10:05 AM
No, they aren't violent at all. There is absolutely no violence in driving up in a car and buying.But behind the product they purchase, running in the background, is a world completely violent. It's like prostitution. Going up to some brothel and procuring isn't violent. In fact, some would consider it love making. In the background is trafficking, organized crime, money laundering, etc. IP: Logged |
hippichick
Moderator Posts: 1719
From:
Registered: May 2009
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posted September 04, 2012 10:18 AM
I agree with the original post~As far as TEXAS?! Yep we killem, which I dont, personally believe in the death penalty, but "we" killem only IF they make it to prison, cause there are alot of law abiding citizens who pack, myself included and a baddie come my way and mess with me and mine, might not make it to death row~  IP: Logged |
YoursTrulyAlways
Knowflake Posts: 3851
From:
Registered: Oct 2011
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posted September 04, 2012 11:13 AM
Where I'm from, you don't worry about the baddies. You worry about the cops!It's like the Wild West here, except you can be walking down the street and the Sheriff can shoot you dead and claim he was just doing his job, and the Mayor will announce what a fine job the Sheriff is doing. Never mind the drugs and druggies. We're petrified of the cops. See a cop, run away fast and hide with the bad guys. The cop may empty his magazine into you because his donuts are stale  IP: Logged |
aquaguy91
Moderator Posts: 4272
From: tennessee
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted September 04, 2012 12:53 PM
quote:
Originally posted by YoursTrulyAlways:
Where I'm from, you don't worry about the baddies. You worry about the cops!It's like the Wild West here, except you can be walking down the street and the Sheriff can shoot you dead and claim he was just doing his job, and the Mayor will announce what a fine job the Sheriff is doing. Never mind the drugs and druggies. We're petrified of the cops. See a cop, run away fast and hide with the bad guys. The cop may empty his magazine into you because his donuts are stale
that's the way its getting here. police are corrupt nowadays. IP: Logged |
YoursTrulyAlways
Knowflake Posts: 3851
From:
Registered: Oct 2011
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posted September 04, 2012 01:42 PM
Tell me about it. I walked through Grand Central Station this morning. There were two cops with MP5s. These weren't regular H&K MP5s. They looked like the type that have been bored to 10 mm for extra killing power. Then there are the National Guards with Colt M4s. Watch where you point those muzzles @$$h0les. All these guys designed to protect me from some crazed terrorist, except that they will probably kill the terrorist, plus an extra 50 innocent people walking by.Meanwhile, can you imagine a good law abidding citizen with a 9 mm that tries to take down a terrorist? It will be suicide by cops. And the terrorist will just go home unharmed. My buddy visited Chicago on business and he just stepped off the sidewalk and was trying to cross the street. Except that pedestrian light was still red. He heard: "Freeze A$$h0le." I told my buddy he's lucky to be alive lol "Sir, you are guilty of the crime fo crossing a street while being Asian! Hands behind your back!" IP: Logged |
RegardesPlatero
Moderator Posts: 4095
From: Storybrooke, Mr. Gold's Shop
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted September 04, 2012 04:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by YoursTrulyAlways:
No, they aren't violent at all. There is absolutely no violence in driving up in a car and buying.But behind the product they purchase, running in the background, is a world completely violent. It's like prostitution. Going up to some brothel and procuring isn't violent. In fact, some would consider it love making. In the background is trafficking, organized crime, money laundering, etc.
^ Exactly. Some people involved might not be violent, but they enable violence. IP: Logged |
Ami Anne
Moderator Posts: 37022
From: Pluto/house next to NickiG
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted September 04, 2012 05:14 PM
No, I don't think so. Pot should be legalized imo------------------
Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal
http://www.mychristianpsychic.com/
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PixieJane
Knowflake Posts: 950
From: CA
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted September 04, 2012 05:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by RegardesPlatero:
^ Exactly.Some people involved might not be violent, but they enable violence.
But generally only if it's illegal, and that includes both prostitution and drugs. It's just like Prohibition, when it was illegal then organized crime dominated it with violent street battles over territory and bootleggers doing all they can to encourage alcohol abuse. Where prostitution is legal is usually better for those in the trade (Australia is especially good without the violence and organized crime being so involved) though the Netherlands is an exception...mostly because the police and system refuse to help the prostitutes that come to them for help (I really don't understand it, unlike most countries they don't even care when native children are enslaved and raped by immigrants). Even so, legal drugs are much less violent there (though tourists from all over the world, some who come by train almost every day from nearby countries, to buy and use pot do make a headache for locals though one many are willing to overlook for the billions it brings to the economy and huge tax revenues). More:
http://www.leap.cc/about/why-legalize-drugs/ and http://www.businessinsider.com/portugal-drug-policy-decriminalization-works-2012-7 And this judge explains why it's prohibition that makes it a very dangerous vice, not the vice itself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKgY5eOlhEc Btw, did you know that someone busted for pot can't get many college grants? Someone convicted of murder, rape, and molesting children CAN. And because there's so many people in prison for nonviolent drug offenses the prisons don't have room for the murderers & rapists and sometimes even let the more violent ones out so the pot smokers can serve their "minimum sentence." Let's be clear, this is about puritanism, and was also something to originally get racial minorities over, not about protecting the public. And here's something else to consider (even if it's delivered humorously):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0or9-xYdU0k Btw, this last July 4rth I wish I called the cops on the drunks who knocked my trashcan into the street (as a side effect of parking on the sidewalk) and sounded slurred as they talked, which included a couple being rude and also verbally showing interests in me sexually while the others cheered (made me think of monkeys jabbering in trees). A few minutes later they screeched out of there and I regretted not calling the cops so they could spend the rest of Independence Day in the drunk tank instead of possibly slamming into an innocent family on the streets or brawling (and killing) or even just doing other stupid things (going home and shooting guns in the air as just one example, or blowing up someone's mailbox). But I don't know if I'd have called the cops if I knew they'd do years in prison. Making 'em sober up in the drunk tank is beneficial to society, but destroying their lives and releasing them after they no longer have jobs but do have criminal contacts and almost no other opportunity (and now has to pay money as well as prove stability if they don't want to go back to prison) besides crime doesn't help them and it doesn't help us. Btw, if you really wanna take a close look then even romantic relationships cause A LOT of violence, maybe we should ban those, too. And voting, I think that enables far more violence than doing drugs. And you're a Christian, right? Christianity has a lot of blood to its rep, too (ie, inspiring violence) and even today there are people murdered over it and abuse enabled (including in the USA). And heck, I'm having a hard time thinking of what SHOULDN'T be banned under that criteria...I once saw a guy stabbed for a bag of chips! IP: Logged |
aquaguy91
Moderator Posts: 4272
From: tennessee
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted September 04, 2012 06:20 PM
my dad was raided without a warrant and basically everything he ever owned was taken from him, despite the fact that most of his stuff was earned,he was a hard worker, he just happened to also be addicted to drugs lol. his charges were initially dropped because the police did not have a warrant to raid his house, however he never got any of his stuff back,the police sold all of that and made lots of money,heck i had left a stereo and an xbox there and they took those too, bunch of corrupt b*stards. anyway a year later the feds showed up unexpectedly and arrested him, they said that the aforementioned arrest was constitutional afterall based on bush's patriot act, also because he had 2 hunting rifles at his house he got extra time tacked onto his sentence,thats the main reason he got all the time he did. according to the patriot act someone who owns a gun and has drugs should be treated as a violent criminal, so the 2nd amendment flies right out of the window when it comes to "national security".anyways after they arrested him,he sat in jail for 2 months and they came and offered to put him through rehab. he was successfully rehabilitated, he never failed a single drug test the whole time he was there, he was even allowed to go out into town during the day and work, and even was able to go home on the weekends, i think its pretty safe to say that if somebody never fails a drug test in over a years time they have kicked their addiction. His counselors all testified to the judge that they felt he was ready to rejoin society, and what does the judge do? sentences him to 15 years in federal prison, even though the problem had already been solved. it just seems like a big waste to me.IP: Logged |
Ami Anne
Moderator Posts: 37022
From: Pluto/house next to NickiG
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted September 04, 2012 06:29 PM
MAN
I am so sorry AQ  ------------------
Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal
http://www.mychristianpsychic.com/
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virgolotus
Knowflake Posts: 536
From:
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted September 04, 2012 06:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by sand:
i think addiction is a sickness not a crime. but pushers yeah i'd lock them up. hell y not just kill them so we don't clog the cells. kidding!
IP: Logged |
Ami Anne
Moderator Posts: 37022
From: Pluto/house next to NickiG
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted September 04, 2012 07:34 PM
I think addictions are a medicating of pain
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Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal
http://www.mychristianpsychic.com/
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aquaguy91
Moderator Posts: 4272
From: tennessee
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted September 04, 2012 08:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Ami Anne:
I think addictions are a medicating of pain
yes, very very true. IP: Logged |
MoonWitch
Moderator Posts: 1044
From: The Beach
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted September 04, 2012 09:46 PM
I think people (read: ADULTS) should be allowed to take the drugs they want to take. So, no, I don't think non-violent drug arrests should be locked up in jail.ESPECIALLY in in cases with such a benign drug as pot. IP: Logged |
Lindaland
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