What if we released all minor drug offenders?

[tecelote]

We hold 25% of the world's prisoners even though we are only 5% of it's population.

The rest of the Americas - Central and South America - our allies according to the media - would readily vote for an end on the War on Drugs. As would most of the world.

We, the citizens of the United States, oppose our neighbors and enfore policy that imprisons more people than any country in the world. 25% of the total prison population. Shame on us!

We, the citizens of the United States, are responsible for this.

We, the citizens of the United States, need to stop the war on drugs.

---

The problem is, what presidential contender is willing to do this?

Warren? Sanders?

[Turbineguy]

1. The economy would collapse.

Last edited Sun Apr 19, 2015, 05:48 PM - Edit history (1)

the justice system is a vital meat grinder. Wall street loots pension funds, the justice system loots people.

[tecelote]

2. ?

[Warren Stupidity]

3. It is hyperbole, but there is a Prison Industrial Complex.

The War on Drugs has become its own protected revenue stream, from the federal level down to communities dependent on our gulag for jobs, there are a lot of bodies that are going to block the path of any serious reform.

[tecelote]

4. But... what about our souls?

How do we justify imprisoning so many? Jobs?

[Runningdawg]

5. Yes, it would collapse

if those people were released into society all at once, the problems would be overwhelming. Instantly unemployment and public assistance would skyrocket. How many of those now in prison for drug offenses, many who were very young went sent, have HS diplomas or a GED? or a job skill? Education and job training would be a priority. Being realistic, not all those who would be released would be grateful, or rehabilitated. Some would continue down the path they began and crime would also rise.
On paper it sounds wonderful, in the real world, implementing such a program would be a social nightmare.

[tecelote]

6. Yeah. Forget the moral prespective.

How about taxing corporations and the 1% like the rest of us and releasing minor drug offenders? We could afford it then. Plus a lot more.

Priorities. We need a major shift that doesn't collapse the economy but does shift our values.

It's not easy but it is the moral option.

[dreamnightwind]

9. Wow, disagree

and even if you're right, that is the most cynical excuse to keep the status quo I can imagine.

It costs a lot of taxpayer money to lock people up. We could, in the short term, use this money to implement reintegration support for the former prisoners. 25k or so per person (my guess at annual incarceration costs) would buy them a lot of help, so this is not a problem.

We'd need less prisons and prison guards, ideally we would help retrain downsized prison guards.

But the freedom of the incarcerated is primary. Prison guard unions, police unions, and for-profit-prisons be damned.

A true social nightmare is what we are living now, with so many in prison. And it doesn't harm only the person locked up, it harms the entire family of that person.

[grasswire]

13. do you not realize that it costs taxpayers nearly 50 grand a year to lock someone up?

...and that doesn't even include the costs of prosecution, law enforcement, debt service on the prins themselves, and a zillion other costs. To say nothing of the societal cost of broken families, parentless children, probation and parole, yada yada yada!

It would be infinitely cheaper to simply pay people to stay off drugs than it is to imprison them.

If that's too radical, it also would be cheaper to MAKE jobs and diversion programs for them and keep them in society, paying taxes and taking care of families.

[Runningdawg]

16. From the replies this post has received

it appears I need to clarify my position. I am NOT advocating we just leave these people to rot in jail. They SHOULD be released, however, if you note the first sentence in my OP "if those people were released into society all at once, the problems would be overwhelming. Instantly unemployment and public assistance would skyrocket." I stand by that statement. Education and job skill training should begin immediately and they should be reintegrated into society as soon as they are ready.

[bvf]

17. Dunno about the public assistance argument.

Taxpayers spend $30,000-$60,000 per year (depending on the state) to house a prisoner. How does that compare with what the government provides to the average American currently receiving public assistance?

[zeemike]

10. I was going to say the same thing but you beat me to it.

The prison system is an industry now, and industry in our kind of capitalist system can only grow, never shrink.
And that is why the war on drugs will be an endless war.

[procon]

7. Maybe the only way to sell the idea is money?

What costs more, drug diversion, treatment programs and home detention that allows offenders to continue school and work to support their families, or hard time in prisons that also moves the family into the welfare system and makes it almost impossible for that ex felon to ever find a good job again and starts the revolving door of recidivism.

We can't continue to act like its still the 50s. It will take major science based reforms in the judicial and prison system to cut costs and improve the lives of those affected by substance abuse. It all translates into tax dollars; but I tend to think even that is trumped by short sighted, self-serving political ideology.

[tecelote]

8. Money seems to trump logic in America but money and logic - that's powerful.

"What costs more, drug diversion, treatment programs and home detention that allows offenders to continue school and work to support their families, or hard time in prisons that also moves the family into the welfare system and makes it almost impossible for that ex felon to ever find a good job again and starts the revolving door of recidivism."

[Jack Rabbit]

11. We better do that now

Or the Corrections Corporation of America will sue us all before the ISDS and a panel of corporate Shysters under the TPP.

[msongs]

12. one could always have a national jobs program for these folks, fixing infrastructure. nah dems &

repubs would never go for such a thing

[Sunlei]

15. with the prison system so profitable and add profits from undocumented hunted down, doubt anyone

will stop.

Even if people are out of prison, the fines and fees revenue they have to pay to local courts and communities keep their entire family oppressed.

[libdem4life]

18. We'd have ex-prisoners and laid-off prison employees looking for work...or social safety network.

But it must start somewhere...now. And also remember, they are disproportionally non-whites.