When we hear the term “drug offender,” we often think first of an unscrupulous and violent individual; a person so consumed by a substance that their behavior and actions become criminal. But this instant thought isn’t always the case. In fact, a great number of those finding themselves in legal trouble are nonviolent drug offenders. Up until recently, these individuals were categorized alongside their violent counterparts and faced the same fate as people dramatically more vicious than them.
On July 3, 2015, The New York Times ran a groundbreaking story, reporting that President Barak Obama is planning to institute a broader use of clemency in a fierce sweep to better aid nonviolent drug offenders. The bold move is expected to commute dozens of sentences, possibly more sentences at once time than any other president has in nearly half a century!
The Nationwide Drug Punishment Policy
In recent years, our nation’s drug punishment policy has been called into question. Daunting queries, like whether we’re addressing the root problem of substance abuse and drug-related crime, have been posed. In fact, the very foundation of our justice system has been called into question as we’ve debated whether substance abuse treatment is a better option over incarceration. Some national studies have offered hard evidence that the benefits of substance abuse treatment far outweigh traditional incarceration for drug use.
According to The New York Times, an overhaul of the criminal juice system has become a bipartisan venture. President Obama and Republicans currently running for his job are united in calling for systematic change. And lawmakers hailing from both parties are working together to create better legislation.
Recently, the United States Sentencing Commission has acted to revise the guidelines for drug offenders. As a result, sentences for over 9,500 inmates have been reduced.
The Bigger Picture
While the strides made on political and legal fronts to better aid nonviolent drug offenders are noteworthy, the bigger picture deserves a spotlight. While the government works to better handle drug offenders, there is still little push to address the root of the problem.
Curbing the amount of drug-related crime in our nation hinges on substance abuse education and treatment. Non-violent offenders can easily be people who were addicted to drugs. As their life spiraled out of control, crime—thankfully non-violent crime—crept into their lives. While clemency can aid these individuals in escaping an often violent prison environment, it does not address their individual battle with drugs.
More than ever, drug education and proper treatment of substance abuse is needed. It will be entities supplying these services that will form the first and most important line of defense in aiding non-violent drug offenders. It will be through treatment of addiction and education on how to overcome it, recover, and lead a normal life that the true reduction in drug-related crime will stem from.
While the current revisions to our nation’s drug policies originate from political and legal venues, it will be local community counselors, treatment facilities, and education providers who will be most needed to cause change.