Like almost any process that involves a large amount of people, a large amount of variability, and limited funds, the justice system could use some serious reforms. Inefficiency and poor practices can lead to individuals spending lengthy amounts of time in prison or jail for minor crimes with little to no actual rehabilitation (Gonnerman). There are also problems with authority figures and abuse of power (Goode). Three interesting issues that exist relating to this problem are the validity of drug-use-related crime, the blurred line between revenge and justice, and lack of reform opportunities.
The validity of drug-use-related crime means whether drug use should be a crime in the first place. Nearly 50% of incarcerations in 2011 were for drug crimes (Sledge). It is possible that addiction and conviction rates might actually go down if all drugs were legalized. The potential benefits are the loss of the “coolness” associated with illegal drug use, the shift to distributers being stores and companies that compete for sales via advertising instead of drug dealers that compete for sales through violence, and regulations that would hopefully allow the drugs to be less shady and more safe. The risks of course are that legal access to extremely addictive drugs could lead to drug companies manipulating people through those addictions, people committing crimes to support their habits, and even more dangerous accidents related to being under the influence of a drug while driving or working.
The blurred line between revenge and justice means exactly that. People have a tendency to see revenge and justice as the same thing (Bloom). Emotions can get involved in many cases and cause police and court systems to want to make people suffer for a crime more than they want them to learn from their mistakes and move on. This can lead to police brutality, unnecessarily long sentences, unfair treatment of the accused, and other forms of corruption.
Lack of reform opportunities means lack of opportunities for an individual convicted of a crime to get assistance getting back on their feet (Petersilla). This includes psychological assistance, assistance kicking drug habits, a decent education that will make that individual eligible for job opportunities, and the motivation to know that he or she can achieve their goals and not need to turn to crime when facing difficulty.
The controversy in all of this appears to be on whether or not people should care about others and give second chances. Some believe it is not their job to help others and that if one is convicted of a crime, it is that person’s fault and that person’s problem. However, this can lead to those incarcerated committing even more serious crimes against others, and to people being incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. Others believe it is our duty to help those who have lost their way get back on their feet, not just for their benefit, but for the benefit of communities as a whole. However this requires forgiveness, time, effort, and a large amount of funds, all of which is not always easy to attain.
Works Cited:
“Beyond the Prison Bubble.” National Institute of Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015. <http://www.nij.gov/journals/268/pages/prison-bubble.aspx>.
Gonnerman, Jennifer. “Before the Law.” N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015. <http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/06/law-3>.
Goode, Erica. “Judge in Maryland Locks Up Youths and Rules Their Lives.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Dec. 2014. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/20/us/judge-in-maryland-locks-up-youths-and-rules-their-lives.html?_r=0>.
“Reflections on the Desire for Revenge.” Reflections on the Desire for Revenge. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://www.nonviolenceandsocialjustice.org/Research-Literature/Sanctuary-Model-literature-and-works-by-Sandra-Bloom/Reflections-on-the-Desire-for-Revenge/75/>.
Sledge, Matt. “The Drug War And Mass Incarceration By The Numbers.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/drug-war-mass-incarceration_n_3034310.html>.
