Incarceration and the Drug Offender

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at what can be done, by way of viable options, to reduce the high rate of incarceration for drug offenses. The paper discusses several suggestions and uses a matrix analysis to determine that treatment programs (particularly those that are in-patient and allow parents in danger of losing their children to bring those children with them) are the most cost-effective and helpful way to lower the incarceration rate.

Table of Contents:
Executive Summary
Problem/Objective
Background of the Problem
Proposed Alternatives
Decision Criteria
Research
Matrix Analysis
Choosing the Optimal Course of Action/The Recommendation
Implementation Plan
Program Evaluation

From the Paper:

"During this era, reformers also succeeded in restricting the government's legal authority to hospitalize mental patients involuntarily. Only persons determined to be mentally ill and dangerous could be confined to a psychiatric hospital without their consent. Requiring involuntary commitment of the mentally ill to be based solely on dangerousness was at the heart of the movement to deinstitutionalize mental patients and to encourage treatment in their community. Proponents of these civil commitment reforms emphasized the civil liberties of the mentally ill, especially their right to freedom and choice."
"In the neoconservative era of the 1980's, critics rejected the "rehabilitative model" in favor of the "just desserts" model of punishment. According to this view, the severity of punishment should depend on the seriousness of the offense and the criminal's prior record. As such, the primary goal of the criminal justice system is not to prevent future crimes through rehabilitation, but to dispense appropriate punishment to those who have earned it. The "just desserts" ideology presumes people are responsible moral agents who can choose between right and wrong. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adleman-Padilla, L. 2002. Babies First gets last word on infant care Hundreds recognize group's contribution at fourth annual event. The Fresno Bee.
• Anderson, D. 2004. Funding cuts impact health services. Precinct Reporter.
• Barth, Richard P. (1991). Educational implications of prenatally drug-exposed children. Social Work in Education, 13, 130-137.
• Beau, D.B. 2001. Normative beliefs, expectancies, and alcohol-related problems among college students: implications for theory and practice. Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education.
• Blake, M. 2004. The damage done: crack babies talk back. Columbia Journalism Review.

More papers on Incarceration and the Drug Offender:

• Essay # 13854 : "Incarceration of Nonviolent Drug Offenders"
• Term Paper # 140116 : "Should Non-Violent Drug Offenders Be Incarcerated?"
• Persuasive Essay # 149554 : "The Flaws in Imprisoning Drug Offenders"

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