Instructions: Use your reading More Imprisonment Does Not Reduce State Drug Problems and your theoretical knowledge to de

Instructions: Use your reading “More Imprisonment Does Not Reduce State Drug Problems” and your theoretical knowledge to develop responses to the questions below. There are no specific “correct” answers, but you should develop detailed responses that demonstrate theoretical knowledge. You are encouraged to refer back to your notes on the theories we’ve covered as well as rely on your crew’ “resource cache” where other crew members uploaded their notes for others to view.

1. The report states that the increase in incarceration for drug-related offenses that took place during the 1980s to the 2000s “yields high cost, low returns”. Based on what you read in the report, what does that statement mean?

2. Our drug laws and sentences are primarily informed by deterrence theory that claims severe penalties attached to drug crimes will send the message that engaging in drug use/sales is not worth the costs. However, data has shown that this deterrence-based approach has been ineffective. Using your reading and knowledge/notes about deterrence theory, develop an explanation for why deterrence-based strategies have not been effective at reducing drug crime and drug addiction. You will likely need to write at least a paragraph to provide a detailed response that incorporates information from your reading and knowledge about deterrence theory to explain WHY harsh punishment through incarceration has not been successful at reducing drug crime. 

3. Some of the recommended policies for reducing drug misuse include supervising individuals in the community instead of incarcerating them and placing people into treatment programs instead of prisons. Select ONE of the theories we’ve covered in this class to explain why alternative approaches like these would be beneficial. Your response should be at least a paragraph and you may want to use specific examples or hypothetical scenarios to illustrate points you make in your response.

Examples of theories/reasons: reducing stigma (labeling theory), helping people maintain social bonds in community (social control theory), reducing exposure to more serious offenders in prisons (social learning theory), etc.

4. The report shows that there is overwhelming support from the public to move away from harsh punishment for drug crimes and towards treatment, harm reduction, and prevention. We also know that harsh punishment is not effective at reducing drug crime. Why then, do we continue to incarcerate people for drug-related crimes when it does not reduce crime and the public prefers other approaches? Use what you’ve learned recently about critical theories of criminology to develop a response to this question. 

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