Unit 9 Our Final Seminar

Any questions?

Chapter 14 Drug Decriminalization and Harm Reduction

What is decriminalization of drugs?

What are some advantages of drug decriminalization?

Advantages are: Reduction in resources to enforce the laws Reduction in resources to enforce the laws Lower costs of drug might reduce secondary crimes Lower costs of drug might reduce secondary crimes Drug sellers out of business Drug sellers out of business Reduction in time and energy in obtaining illegal drugs Reduction in time and energy in obtaining illegal drugs Government controlled drugs would be safer due to not being contaminated or “cut” Government controlled drugs would be safer due to not being contaminated or “cut”

What would be some disadvantages?

Disadvantages: Easier for younger people to obtain (cigarettes and alcohol) Easier for younger people to obtain (cigarettes and alcohol) More “law abiding” citizens might try the drugs More “law abiding” citizens might try the drugs Legal drugs would be signal an acceptance within society Legal drugs would be signal an acceptance within society Making them legal would reduce some from trying to be become drug-free Making them legal would reduce some from trying to be become drug-free

What are some theories or excused for drug use?

Excuses for drug abuse: It is a disease with a physiological basis It is a disease with a physiological basis Psychological condition or personality disorder Psychological condition or personality disorder Response to oppressive social conditions Response to oppressive social conditions Please-activity of hedonistic individual Please-activity of hedonistic individual

For 1000 S & H Green Stamps What is a hedonistic person?

Hedonistic A person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self- gratification

What are the purpose of needle- exchange programs?

ETHICS PART TWO

A liquor store owner on your post asks you to escort him to the bank two blocks away after he closes so that he can make a night deposit. It ’ s 11 PM and it ’ s a high-crime area.

An automobile repossession man stops you on the street and offers you $25 if you can locate a certain car for him. He gives you his business card and tells you that all you have to do is find the car and call in the location, the same as his civilian “ spotters. ” No other involvement on your part is required.

The local TV/radio station advertises rewards for tips from citizens on breaking news stories. You then call in information on a gruesome double-homicide you’ve just responded to, using a relative’s name.

You obtain several motor vehicle registration listings from your agency’s criminal justice information system computer terminal at the request of your brother.

A local funeral director asks you to hold-up traffic at a busy intersection so that he can get a funeral procession moving away in good order.

The owner of a private ambulance company on your post who has been very helpful to you in the past, asks you to complete an accident report on a property damage accident involving one of his vehicles that occurred in another jurisdiction two days ago, which he needs for insurance purposes. He tells you that “it was just a fender- bender,” and that his driver can give you all the details you need for the report.

Put yourself in the shoes of a police officer. You respond to an alarm call and find a broken window at a closed corner grocery store. You make entry with a partner and find no suspects and nothing apparently missing. Put yourself in the shoes of a police officer. You respond to an alarm call and find a broken window at a closed corner grocery store. You make entry with a partner and find no suspects and nothing apparently missing. You have the dispatcher call the store owner to respond to make sure nothing is missing. While waiting for the owner’s arrival, you notice your partner pick a candy bar off the shelf and start eating it. You have the dispatcher call the store owner to respond to make sure nothing is missing. While waiting for the owner’s arrival, you notice your partner pick a candy bar off the shelf and start eating it. What, if anything, would you do? What, if anything, would you do?

Ignore it Ignore it –No ethical basis Wait to see if he pays the owner Wait to see if he pays the owner –What if he doesn’t? –Is it still okay? Make partner settle up with owner Make partner settle up with owner –What if he doesn’t? –Do you still “tell”

Give your co-worker time to tell the boss himself; if he does not, you tell the boss Give your co-worker time to tell the boss himself; if he does not, you tell the boss