Crime and Drugs Current Issues

Poverty Unemployment Splinter Families Drugs Firearms Handgun Control Act Assault Weapons Ban Violent Crime Non-violent Crime Violent Crime Control & Law Enforcement Act Furman v. Georgia Gregg v. Georgia Eighth Amendment Capital Punishment

Background Types of Crime Non-violent crimes – crimes against property, burglary, or car theft Violent crimes – murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault

More Money to Fight Crime 1994, The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act passed by Congress signed by President Clinton Provisions: $30 billion to fight crime Add 100,000 police officers nationwide Ten-year ban on certain semiautomatic assault weapons Expansion of the death penalty Mandatory life sentences for those convicted of three felonies for violent crimes.

Problems with this… Imprisoning people for long periods of time wastes tax payers money State budgets have tightened so laws requiring long sentences have been repealed

What causes crime? Poverty Drug Abuse Lack of employment Lack of educational opportunities

Poverty Low-income people become depressed and frustrated so they are more apt to break the law Guns are available. Low-income people tend to live in more high crime areas therefore they tend to see a need to own a gun.

Gun Control Timeline 1993 Handgun Control Act (Brady law) Mandates a 5-day waiting period for anyone buying a handgun from a licensed dealer 1994 Congress approves the Assault Weapons Ban on the manufacture of certain types of semiautomatic assault rifles. 2002 Federal officials reject 136,000 applications for handguns due to background checks 2004 AWB expired.

Drugs The sale of drugs, especially heroine and cocaine, contribute greatly to violent crime. Drugs are addictive and addicts commit crimes to support their habit. Drug trafficking causes violence because drug dealers compete for money and territory.

War on Drugs Dept. of Health and Human Services 2003 8.3% of the population aged 12 and over were using some sort of illicit drug. Most Americans believe the drug problem is serious and must be addressed Federal gov’t puts aside more than ½ of its antidrug budget to curb the supply of illegal drugs Interdiction – Federal gov’t promotes policies in foreign countries to destroy crops used to make drugs.

Capital Punishment Capital Punishment – death penalty Furman v. GA, 1972 – Supreme Court ruled the death penalty violated the 8th amendment Gregg – Supreme Court ruled states had revised their death penalty laws to uphold the Court’s guidelines, thus reinstating the use of capital punishment.v. GA, 1976

Executing Juveniles Timeline 1989 Supreme Court said those under 15 could not be executed for their crimes 2002 Supreme Court said the mentally retarded who commit crimes could not be executed 2004 Supreme Court changes its mind and says no one under 18 can be executed

Why Not? Most have had terrible childhoods Medical research has shown the adolescent brain has not matured enough to deter impulses that may trigger a violent crime Psychologists say teenagers don’t have a realistic understanding of death and often think of themselves as immortal – death is NOT a deterrent

Prison or Treatment for Drug Offenders? Nixon was first American president to declare a “war on drugs” He advocated treatment over punishment 1980s saw move to go with zero tolerance over treatment Today – still strong punishment along with interdiction in South America 2003 President G.W. Bush signs National Drug Control Strategy added education and treatment as well as interdiction.

Medicinal Marijuana Marijuana is illegal It’s the drug of choice in the U.S. 1996 Proposition 215 legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. 10 other states have similar laws 2005 Supreme Court ruled all of these state laws violated the federal laws