Submitted by: Submitted by quasiah123
Views: 479
Words: 695
Pages: 3
Category: Science and Technology
Date Submitted: 06/03/2009 11:14 AM
MMDavis
Criminal Law
Mr. Scott Wilson
Drug offenders shouldn't receive harsh sentences!
Because thousands of low-level drug offenders are sent to prison.
Most Drug Offenders are Nonviolent.
New York drug offenders face harsh sentences.
I will be focusing on New York State drug offenders because I have witness the disproportionate harsh sentences, that some of my family members and friends have received in the past for drug offenses.
According to New York State District Attorneys Association mandatory minimum sentencing laws enacted twenty-five years ago compel the over- incarceration of drug offenders and disproportionately harsh sentences. Judges cannot fashion a punishment that fits the crime because the law require prison terms keyed to two facts: the weight of the drug involved and whether there were prior felony convictions.
Thousands of low-level drug offenders are sent to prison.
Since 1980, there have been 126,734 commitments to New York prisons for drug offenses. Whether first-time or repeat offenders, most were street-level dealers selling small quantities, bit-players in the drug trade, addicts trying to support their habit.
In 1998, 9,063 drug offenders were sent to prison. Most were convicted of low level offenses. 63% were sent to prison convicted of the lowest level drug offenses-felony classes C-E.
According to Department of Criminal Justice Services DCJS data for drug offenders sentenced in 1997. One in three (31.8%) of drug offenders sent to prison were first offenders with no prior felony convictions.
Current Population of Drug Offenders in Prison
There are currently 22,386 men and women in New York prisons convicted of drug offenses 6,383 were first offenders and 15,922 were repeat offenders.
13,162 of the drug offenders behind bars were convicted of offenses in the three lowest felony classes-classes C, D, or E-which involve only minute drug amounts.
' 89% of the repeat drug offenders were convicted of minor crimes (class...