Essay on "Crime "Getting Tough"

Essay 2 pages (958 words) Sources: 1

[EXCERPT] . . . .

They believe that by reducing and eliminating addiction, we will reduce and eliminate the multiple crimes related to addiction.

These experts have suggested several steps to break the cycle of drug addiction in order to reduce and eliminate the problems related to addiction. First, they want system-wide continuing education of all members of the Criminal Justice System about the science of addiction (Dressel, 2011). Secondly, they want all members to work together for a standard plan to decide: what roles each member should play in dealing with addiction; what information must be gathered to decide whether an offender is an addict; the earliest times to screen offenders; all the alternatives to incarceration that can be used, depending on an offender's screening results (Dressel, 2011). Third, they want to establish across the System: alternative methods for dealing with addiction; screening/assessment to decide which people should be merely prosecuted and jailed and which people need alternatives (Dressel, 2011). Fourth, they want to enable all members of the System to use effective alternatives to incarceration (Dressel, 2011). Fifth, they want to enable all members of the System to supervise people using those alternatives (Dressel, 2011). Government experts believe that this approach can more effectively and ultimately inexpensively deal with America's significant drug/alcohol-related criminal problems.

3. Conclusion

The "get tough" approach to crime usually means more arrests and more jail sentences, which has been a popular approach in America since the 1970's. Though this approach has cost hundreds of billions of dollars, some people support it believing that it has reduced crime and that the government must be seen to be tough on crime. Meanwhile, other people oppose "getting tough," believing that it is not cost-effective, it is more political and racist than realistic, it results in releasing hundreds of thousands of ex-convicts and their problems into the population every year, and dealing with the offenders' problems will ultimately reduce crime without costing hundreds of billions of dollars.

One example of this anti-"get-tough" approach is the Criminal Justice System's treatment of the multiple crimes connected with alcohol/substance abuse. At least some experts believe that throwing people in jail for their addictions does not solve the problem. They are focusing on understanding the science of addiction and breaking the cycle of addiction in order to reduce and eventually eliminate crimes connected to addiction. By suggesting several steps for intelligently dealing with alcohol/substance abuse, these experts intend to help the community and nation by helping the offender.

Works Cited

Barkan, S.E. (2011). Sociology: Understanding and changing the social world, brief edition, v. 1.1. Retrieved on October 2, 2012 from flatworldknowledge.com Web site: http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/4306?e=barkbrief-1.1-ch05_s04

Dressel, W.F. (2011, November 8). Creating institutional change in the Criminal Justice System. Retrieved on October 2, 2012 from www.whitehouse.gov… READ MORE

How to Reference "Crime "Getting Tough" Essay in a Bibliography

Related Essays:

Crime Scene Integrity, Management Essay

It is a judgment call the coroner and other crime scene investigators make as to determine how the individual victim died. This is important to establish the type of case… read more

Essay 4 pages (1314 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

History and Theories of Crime Essay

Crime Theory

The thirty years that made up the historic era known as the 1950s through the 1970s produced many changes in the way we view the world. Two significant… read more

Essay 3 pages (1206 words) Sources: 0 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Crime All Crime Threatens Law and Order Essay

Crime

All crime threatens law and order, representing the breakdown of social norms. Moreover, all types of crime impact all strata of society. Violent crime is perhaps the most visible… read more

Essay 3 pages (1055 words) Sources: 4 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Crime Control Theory Understanding Criminal Inclination Thesis

Crime Control Theory

Understanding Criminal Inclination in Society

The Cost of Crime

Crime is one of the most expensive drains on public funds and other resources in the United States.… read more

Thesis 4 pages (1049 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Crime Increase in Houston TX Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Term Paper

Crime

Hurricane Katrina was the worst natural disaster in American History. Although the storm itself was a destructive force, the social and political issues that arose in its wake are… read more

Term Paper 5 pages (1643 words) Sources: 4 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>