War+on+Drugs

12/12/08 Currently over crowding is the biggest problem. Currently there are more than 2 Million people in prisons in US US has 5% of worlds population, but 25% of its prisoners 59.6% of those are drug related offenses 2.7% for violent offenses. Marijuana was criminalized in 1930s because oil industries were threatened by hemp industry. Both parties agree over crowding is a problem, sides can agree on how to solve it. --one side says tougher punishments to discorage other possible offenders. --build more prisons to house them and the increasing number of criminals. The opposition says the more than 500,000 nonviolent crime drug offenders are putting unnessary strain on prison system. Instead mandatory drug and alcohol programs should be implemented.  Should more prisons be built to accommodate the rapidly growing number of incarcerated people? Most states can afford to build more, each prisoner costs state $40G+ a year.  Should the justice system's sentencing procedures be reexamined?  Should prisoner's be used as a source of cheap labor? Prisoners are paid small amount to work for the state(some states).  EX:CA gives non violent criminals chance to work for fire department for $1h, and a chance at serving only 35% of their time.  Would sending drug users to treatment programs instead of prison help with the overcrowding problem? --Often these programs are underfunded and will put a strain on community and county jails.  Is the three strikes law fair?  EX: Three strikes on Graffiti, or white color crimes, or marijuana possession.  Are overcrowded and uncomfortable conditions a violation of the prisoners' rights?   EX: forced to work physically while injured. Not given medications on time, or proper dosages.  EX: In ca currently prisons are nearly 60% over occupied as a result the medical care they are offered is “unconstitutional” according to 3 federal judges. The judges ordered Gov. to find a way to relieve over crowding with out building new prisons. They are currently heading to trial which may result in the early release of 55,000 nonviolent crime offenders.   Would privatization benefit the prison system? Corrections Corporations of America (CCA) privately own prisons taking the burden off state. They earn a profit from it. These are a few of the problems with these prisons:  ·  failure to provide adequate medical care to prisoners;  ·  failure to control violence in its prisons; <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">substandard conditions that have resulted in prisoner protests and uprisings; <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">criminal activity on the part of some CCA employees, including the sale of illegal drugs to prisoners; and <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Escapes, which in the case of at least two facilities include inadvertent releases of prisoners who were supposed to remain in custody. <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> Is issuing prisoners early parole to reduce prison overcrowding leading to more crime in the community? <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> EX: in florida prisoners are serving 82.8% of sentences compared to 33.9% 15 years ago. <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> Should mandatory sentencing be eliminated? <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> What human rights violations are commonly inflicted on prisoners? <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> EX: In Alabama HIV positive prisoners are not allowed to do work release programs <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> What is the United States doing about abuses against prisoners?
 * War On Drugs **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> Main concerns currently **