Prison-Drug Crimes-Disparity of Sentencing
Pic by WNYC
Public Policy that is outcome driven is the only way to accurately reduce drug use and drug crime. I sometimes wonder what Turkey comes up with the laws and programs that are not evidence based. Thus, wasting billions for years until new policies and programs are change the bad practices. Thousands of individuals are left untrained and placed back into society saddled with labels that prevents them from gainful employment for the rest of their life.
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Minimum sentencing
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Disparity of penalties between drugs
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Sentencing for violent crimes vs drug crimes
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There is a need for laborers for park, road, and building improvements.
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There is a need for laborers for creating affordable housing stock, reconstruction after disasters and building maintenance.
Public Policy needs change to address the fact that prison for non violent drug crimes has shown for decades to not result in effective outcomes. The billions spent could be better spent on managing and creating a workforce from these offenders that is better prepared and that pays back to society through their labor. Call it Public Works Projects Crew or whatever but just maybe the answer is implementing a sentencing of hard labor community service for non violent cases for drug crimes.
Nonprofits have consistently shown to be successful in coordinating programs where outcomes have to be measurable. Therefore, the federal and state government should focus on identifying those outcomes they wish to obtain and implement a procurement from nonprofits to accomplish such.
