War on Drugs

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the United States' war on drugs and suggests that it has become a crusade against women, specifically women of color. The paper discusses the reasons for the increase in numbers of women in the federal prison system since the implementation of federal drug laws in 1986. It describes the impact of the rapid expansion and privatization of American prisons, known as the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) and analyzes the lack of social policies such as drug rehabilitation.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
A Brief Background
Women As A Separate Category
Prison Industrial Complex
The Repercussions On Families
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The majority of women are primary caregivers of children, thus would it not serve the interests the American family unit to preserve their relationships? Some authors have acknowledged that substance abuse needs to be considered a health issue, others have advocated that women tried for nonviolent crimes should be placed in community-based programs where they could be rehabilitated and maintain ties to the families. Children who loose their parents to incarceration become dependent on the system through foster care system. Would it not be in the best financial and social interests of the state to develop these types of facilities, ensuring the mobility of the family unit?"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bosworth, Mary.The U.S Federal Prison System. London: Sage Publication, 2002.
• Codd, Val. "Women and the Prison Industrial Complex." Off Our Backs,31:2 .(February 2001).
• Coyle, Andrew ED. Capitalist Punishment: Prison Privatization and Human Rights. London: Zed Books, 2003.
• Davis, Angela. "Masked Racism: Reflections on the Prison Industrial Complex." Color Lines , 1: 2. (Fall 1998).
• Davis, Angela. Are Prisons Obsolete? New York: Seven Stories Press, 2003.

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