29 Apr 2021 at 13:00
Manage discussion entry
In light of the idea that the current crime and punishment system in the
United States is flawed because of the high number of incarcerated
individuals on what is considered by some "minor" infractions, such as
minor drug charges; it must be considered against the backdrop of
negative societal effects. In other words how does a young person, for
example only, who is arrested and convicted of a minor drug charge
negatively affect the society in which they live? This is where the water
gets muddy. Some would contend that minor drug offenses do not truly
affect society negatively. There is, however, a case for such acts being a
gateway to other illegal activity. Such as burglary, theft, major drug
offenses, and even eventually acts of violent crime. Drugs and drug use
are difficult for Christian's to contend with from a specific biblical source.
In other words the bible does not specifically speak about using drugs.
However, there is multiple biblical sources that contend against criminal
activity in general. We are asked as believers to abide by the laws of our
land, follow the rule of our government leaders, and engage in our society
as moral individuals who care for and protect the innocent. These
characteristics, with God as the standard bearer, have been established
through God's moral law for all of humanity. So any criminal activity is
therefore an act against God's law. This is where the rule of law, if
properly executed, ensures that punishments fit the crimes. God's law of
love demands that we, as a society, contend with wrong doing that
impacts people in a negative manner. Sin is the ultimate corrupter. It
takes all that is good in a person and can contaminate them into
something evil, however, this is not to suggest that it acts of its own will
as some mystical entity that individuals cannot control. Sin is personal
impulse and temptation that is directly acted upon. The common concept
from todays opponents to our current system is that minor drug
convictions and incarcerations hold a greater negative effect on society
than the person is who committing the criminal act. The following article
makes some very specific statements to this idea. "Neal remained in jail
for months, where he did not receive proper medication and his health
declined drastically", this portion fails to take into account, by the articles
own admission, that Neal had "cycled in and out of prison for drug
offenses for a number of years."1 This is the concept that McQuilken
discusses when he mentions that nearly 2/3rds of prison inmates will be
released and then continue to commit similar or worse crimes. 2 It is this
element of the drug enforcement process that many begin to rebel
against. Very few will try to contend that drug use should just simply
considered OK. Most see it as a state-of-being for an individual that they
"cannot" control. They are termed "addicted" and thus the system needs
to come to their aid rather than judge their wrong doing. Those who
contend against the crime system also claim that it is unjust to convict
these criminals of "minor" infractions. They suggest that the criminal just
needs help. I contend that this is a two fold problem. First, the individual
did not have to commit a drug offense minor or otherwise. Sin is still a
personal choice in this case. Second, the system should make an attempt
to help the individual break their problem with drugs, however, no one
can force such a change. If the individual does not desire to fix their issue,
it is not the systems responsibility to perpetuate their criminal activity, by
relenting in punishment for criminal activity.=
=
1. Stauffer, Brian. "The Human Toll of Criminalizing Drug Use".=The Human
Rights Watch.October 2016 accessed
at:=https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/10/12/every-25-seconds/human-toll-
criminalizing-drug-use-united-states#=(Links to an external site.)
2. McQuilken, Robert & J. Copan.=An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking
in the Way of Wisdom.(Downers Grove, IL: IV Press) 2014.=
