War on Drugs and Prison Overcrowding

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that the "war on drugs" has caused prisons to reach capacity levels in Connecticut and effected budget cuts in the education system. The writer contends that Connecticut needs to adopt a change in philosophy. The writer then suggests workable alternatives that will not send all drug law offenders to prison and will increase offenders' chances of remaining contributing members of society.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
All Drug Offenders Do Not Belong in Prison
War on Drugs and Prison Overcrowding in Connecticut
Solutions
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"The original purpose of sentencing an individual to prison as recent as 200 years ago was for inmates to, "contemplate their sins in solitude and disgrace." (Hall, 2003). Upon release it was hoped that the individual would then be deterred from committing further crimes. However, over time not only did individuals get sentenced to prison because of the crimes that he or she committed, it became a place for the undesirables in society. The attitude was to lock them up and throw away the key. This expensive attitude has lead to facing some of the problems facing society today."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Connecticut General Assembly. (2000). Factors Impacting Prison Overcrowding. Retrieved from: http://www.cga.ct.gov/pri/archives/2001annualfactors.htm on June 10, 2007.
• Drug Policy Alliance. (2003). Connecticut Bill to Reduce Prison Numbers. Retrieved from: http://www.lindesmith.org/news/04_15_03connecticut.cfm on June 10, 2007.
• Hall, W. (2003). States Rethinking the Purpose of Prisons. Retrieved from: http://www.cjcj.org/press/prison_purpose.html on June 10, 2007.

More papers on War on Drugs and Prison Overcrowding:

• Persuasive Essay # 114378 : "The War on Drugs"
• Research Paper # 25047 : "Recognizing and Solving the War on Drugs"
• Cause and Effect Essay # 115446 : "War on Drugs"

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