Treatment or Incarceration Essay - 1879 Words

There is an epidemic of almost epic proportions in this wonderful nation called the United States. However, this epidemic is not only national; it is worldwide. And because of this epidemic there are other problems in society such as an increase in crime and prison overcrowding. The epidemic is that of Substance Abuse and Addiction. The penal systems of each state house more prisoners due to drug related crimes than any other. The statistics do not lie; they only tell the truth. Treatment instead of incarceration would be beneficial to the addict himself and to society as a whole. Evidence shows treatment would lower the amount of criminal activity due to substance abuse and addiction. Logic shows that if a problem is cured then the†¦show more content†¦The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia’s article â€Å"Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction† states that over half of the deaths on America’s highways were by driver’s that were intoxicated. The populatio n of North Carolina’s prison system has grown in each of the past few years (Price). However, if indeed there was a different course of action that could be taken to end the crimes before the criminals even have the opportunity to commit a crime, should not that very course of action be investigated. That course of action is treatment for the convicted offenders. Not to say those who break the law should not have to pay restitution to society, though. Treatment of those who were convicted of drug related offenses could be placed in treatment and returned to society as a productive citizen. The nation’s penal system calls itself rehabilitating the inmates. Statistics prove otherwise. Recidivism has been proven to be low for individuals that have gone through treatment but not for those do not have the opportunity (Cooper). The Federal Bureau of Prisons have found of those inmates who did receive treatment only 3% were rearrested within 6 months, but found over 12% that did not complete treatment were rearrested within 6 month of release (Schmidt). That is a large difference and does not show that the penal system is rehabilitating. Only a few of the number of people that completed treatment went on to continue their criminal career,Show MoreRelatedIncarceration : Balancing Punishment And Treatment988 Words   |  4 Pages4.0 Alternatives to Incarceration Balancing Punishment and Treatment Mass Incarceration In December 2013, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of eight federal inmates who were convicted of nonviolent crack cocaine offenses, six of whom were serving life sentences (Miles 2014). The surge in the prison population of the United States of America can be attributed to changes in sentencing and policies that created stricter laws and harsher punishments for offenders. For the last half-centuryRead MoreDrug Addiction Treatment Vs. Incarceration966 Words   |  4 PagesDrug Addiction Treatment vs. Incarceration: Gaining Insight Regarding the Facts Drug addiction is most often defined as a chronic progressive relapsing cycle in which an individual experiences excessive compulsions in using a mood altering substance despite the consequences associated with the drug. Drug addiction is also considered a disease that affects the brain; which results in a chemical imbalance caused by the abuse of illegal substances. The effects of drug usage can cause long term brainRead MoreSubstance Abuse Treatment Instead of Incarceration? Essay2239 Words   |  9 Pagesaddicts. There is also the matter of the cost effectiveness of treatment versus incarceration. Of course there are opponents that make valid argument against treatment in lieu of incarceration. The argument against includes the fact that relapse can and often does happen to the addicted individual. In many segments of society providing treatment to stigmatized individuals is frowned upon. To begin discussing the need for treatment of addiction for correctional inmates the first thing that needsRead MoreIncarceration For The Mentally Ill Offenders By Providing Treatment Options778 Words   |  4 PagesMemo to the Mayor Mental health courts are courts specifically dedicated to offering an alternative option to incarceration for the mentally ill offenders by providing treatment options. The idea of mental health courts is noble, one should not view only the benefits but also the possible detrimental impacts they could have on the public before providing funding. One can only make an informed decision on the merits of mental health courts funding when they weigh the benefits recidivism rates, publicRead MoreRestorative Justice And Reducing Prison Population1495 Words   |  6 PagesRestorative Justice to Reduce Prison Population Is long-term incarceration working to resolve issues of criminal conduct? When considering the population of people incarcerated is rising at an alarming rate and crime statistics not dropping by much, it is hard to tell if incarceration is working in these modern times. The United States prison population is the largest in the world. In fact, the United States has 2.3 million persons in institutions which is more than the rest of the world combinedRead MoreThe Incarceration Of The Prison Policy Institute1369 Words   |  6 Pages IV. Inform and persuade you that by utilizing rehab over incarceration for non violent drug offenders we as a nation can combat the wasteful spending, the addiction issue in our nation, and the fact our incarceration system fails these individuals. Main Point Sub-Point Sub-Point BODY I. In our society we are faced with a drug addiction problem that is not being dealt with properly. Our use of incarceration as a means to deal with this problem has not only been costlyRead MoreSubstance Abuse And The United States1210 Words   |  5 Pageshas severe repercussions that may encompass severe dependence and overdose.1 Substance abuse is an epidemic that cannot be ignored. However, the combined forces of over-prescription, addiction and subsequent unemployment may mean that coverage for treatment for opioid addiction is not guaranteed even with increased Medicaid access through the Affordable care Act (ACA). In March of 2010, the ground-breaking healthcare law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law byRead MoreAmerica Should Not Afford For Nonviolent Criminals Essay1741 Words   |  7 Pagescare, and treatment programs at the taxpayers expense? Community supervision programs that require offenders to work to support themselves and their families make better sense. In addition, offenders should pay supervision fees, restitution to victims and court costs. Further, offenders on community supervision could utilize to addiction treatment programs and mental health services to avoid re-offending. Community supervision offers an excellent alternative to the high cost of incarceration whileRead MoreMass Incarceration And Its Effects On Families, Communities, And Society1400 Words   |  6 Pagesa problem and many refuse to believe or even acknowledge that there is one. However, the United States has paved the way to create a cycle of endless incarceration for many people but especially for those of color. Such as the 1994 Violent Crime Control Act and the lack of substance abuse treatment in prisons. Overwhelmingly, mass incarceration has had a great impact on families, communities and society as a whole. As illuminated through the parable by inmate Joe Martinez, this continued cyclingRead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Use And Incarceration894 Words   |  4 PagesState s long and complex history of substance use and incarceration. Some could make a strong argument that our country s battle against substance use has been a misguided, ill conceived, expensive, and discriminatory attempt which produced inauspicious results. The War on Drugs and Deinstitutionalization are two such attempts. This paper will analyze how these policy blunders have formed a strong association between substance use and incarceration, how current practice and research is attempted to