3 ms·

> This explains why the US has basically become a prison state and has roughly 4% of the world's population and 33% That could also be attributed to strict dr

> This explains why the US has basically become a prison state and has roughly 4% of the world's population and 33% That could also be attributed to strict drug laws. If we decriminalize drugs, that number will fall dramatically. It may not be as philosophical as "people are scared of [freedom]".

maxerickson 9y ago
I'm sure there is some relationship between drug prohibition and violence, but the big difference in US incarceration rates is from the severity of sentencing for violent crime. There aren't all that many people imprisoned for straight up drug crimes.
Bartweiss 9y ago
> If we decriminalize drugs, that number will fall dramatically. Not so much. Drug charges are common, but sentences are often short. Releasing everyone in state or federal prison solely or chiefly for drug crimes might manage a 14% drop. That's important, definitely, but we would still be #1 globally in incarceration rate. And worse, that's everyone in on drug charges, up to and including smugglers and major dealers. Some of those people are fine to release, but remember that drug charges are very easy to get convictions with. So some people doing long sentences for dealing are also known murderers, but got convicted of possession/intent conviction because it's easier to prove in court. If we let them out, they'll probably reoffend violently. If we hadn't pressed drug charges initially, they'd have gone to prison for one of their other offenses. (The difficulty of identifying these people is one reason politicians are more opposed to decriminalizing than other people - they don't want to enable Willie Horton ads.) None of which makes drug decriminalization bad! Our drug laws are ineffective and immoral. But something like cut50 is totally unattainable via drug law.

3 ms·

> This explains why the US has basically become a prison state and has roughly 4% of the world's population and 33% That could also be attributed to strict dr

by devmunchies 9y ago

maxerickson 9y ago
I'm sure there is some relationship between drug prohibition and violence, but the big difference in US incarceration rates is from the severity of sentencing for violent crime. There aren't all that many people imprisoned for straight up drug crimes.
Bartweiss 9y ago
> If we decriminalize drugs, that number will fall dramatically. Not so much. Drug charges are common, but sentences are often short. Releasing everyone in state or federal prison solely or chiefly for drug crimes might manage a 14% drop. That's important, definitely, but we would still be #1 globally in incarceration rate. And worse, that's everyone in on drug charges, up to and including smugglers and major dealers. Some of those people are fine to release, but remember that drug charges are very easy to get convictions with. So some people doing long sentences for dealing are also known murderers, but got convicted of possession/intent conviction because it's easier to prove in court. If we let them out, they'll probably reoffend violently. If we hadn't pressed drug charges initially, they'd have gone to prison for one of their other offenses. (The difficulty of identifying these people is one reason politicians are more opposed to decriminalizing than other people - they don't want to enable Willie Horton ads.) None of which makes drug decriminalization bad! Our drug laws are ineffective and immoral. But something like cut50 is totally unattainable via drug law.