Assignment: Philosophical Orientations and Theories of Corrections

STUDENT REPLIES

HERE IS THE PROFESSORS QUESTION BACK FROM THE PAPER YOU WROTE ON MONDAY PLEASE ANSWER HIM BACK ON THIS. AND REFERENCE ALL WORK PLEASE THANKS….

PROFESSOR REPLY #1 Is there a presence of drug courts or alternatives in Texas that are actively being used?

STUDENT REPLY #2 David Givens

This is an interesting topic to say for sure, in my home state of Illinois the charges are different for the type of drug and the amount of the drug and the intent of the person that has the drug. There are different classes of charges that can be brought against a person for felonies class 1,2,3,4 for misdemeanors it is A,B,C. There are different classes of narcotics as well, Schedules are based on the likelihood of abuse. Examples of Schedule 1 drugs the most severe are heroin, cocaine, PCP and LSD. Depending on the quantity and intention to distribute, the offender can face 50 years in prison. Repeat offenders have their own schedule and aggravate the situation.

Just recently, Illinois was yet another state to decriminalize Marijuana and allow its regulated sale and possession. Having a very large quantity can still be a crime, however.

I think that the war on drugs in my opinion is a failure. It has swelled our ranks of inmates and caused widespread violence in Latin America where many of the drugs are produced to meet the demand of the United States. I feel it should be treated as an illness and not be sent to the criminal courts. We have obviously learned nothing from history with the Prohibition in the early twentieth century. All we have done is replace Al Capone with El Chapo.

STUDENT REPLIES

STUDENT REPLY #3 Samuel Nagy

The sentencing structure for drug offenses here in Arizona, more specifically, Pima County, are mostly related to diversion and probationary rulings. Someone really either has to break the enforcement limit of the drug possession amount or has had several prior convictions. Most drug cases, under a certain amount are sent to our diversion courts or specialty courts here in Pima County. All levels of jurisdiction including City Police, County Sheriff and felony levels within Pima County Superior Court have similar sentencing structures.

The sanctions used for drug convictions in Arizona are mostly uniform. Drug convictions, again depending on the amount of drugs possessed, typically sees fines, drug court enrollments and further accountability from the drug court team and probation officer. Also, Prison could be a sanction imposed for repeat offenders and those convicted with higher levels of narcotics, transportation and/or sales.

I feel there is more congruency within the sentencing guidelines now here in Pima County. Arizona as a whole, seems to be on a similar page. However, not every court and jurisdiction follow all guidelines the same.

I feel two factors contributing to sentencing disparity among drug offenders in Arizona is whether or not the conviction and crime was repetitive and if there were large quantities of drugs involved. Some of the "unequal treatment" may come about from how effective the legal representation can be, as one jurisdiction may try two people differently based on the appointed legal representation.