[QUOTE=cmac2012;3183196]There is some truth to what you say but it's a complicated picture. I have no personal ax to grind. I'm trying to understand various things. Have you not heard of the powder cocaine vs. crack cocaine sentencing disparity? In the past 10-15 years (approx/estimate) cocaine use among whites has tended to involve power, among blacks - crack. Sentences for crack are more severe. Quite a bit more severe.
Crack-Powder Sentencing Disparity: Whites Get Probation, Blacks Get A Decade Behind Bars
The studies I've read generally conclude that
imprisoning users is one of the least cost effective measure in combatting drug use, while interdiction in other countries (spraying cocaine crops) is even less cost-effective.
As for giving up on rehab, focus on that has always been weak, and now we have an industry that makes major bank keeping people locked up. Woo-Hoo! Private sector baby!
As for this line of yours:
I don't know because I have not reviewed the individual cases of each one; did you do that?
C'mon man, this is nonsense. Leads me to believe you are not open to actually thinking about this issue.[/QUOTE]
Being in Jail keeps the offender from stealing or otherwise victimizing other People; that has to have some monetary and saves the ass of potential Victims.
The reason for the Private Sector Incarceration is that the State facilities are not sufficient for the numbers of Inmates; more inmates and longer sentences.
I have often heard the statement "too many Black Men are in Jail". The Implication is that it is a Racial issue that they are there only because of their Race. So does that mean they committed no Crime/s?
This is why I say you need to look at the individual cases.
I already offered what I heard is one of the reasons Black Criminals get longer sentences is because they the often have extensive criminal records going back to when they were Juveniles and that has an effect on the sentence a Person gets. That is common sense to me.
Racist or not the Police go to where someone calls in a Problem or where they know there is area where there is high potential for Crime.
If there is a Predominantly Black Area and it has a History of little crime the Police are not going to spend much time in that area.
I am personally am OK with the real Cocaine and Crack having the same Sentences. But, again White or Black they are going to look at Your previous Criminal Record when the sentence You.
Another sentencing issue I have not spoken of is who is going to stand up for You in court and of course who has more Money to provide a better defense.
If I am a Person who since I was 9 or 10 years old has been involved in a Gang and has a Criminal Record who do I know that is going to stand up for Me and say that despite My problems I still have some Good Character.
I mean is some Church Official, Teacher, Coach. Social Worker or other non-family member going to come to Court and say I have some redeeming Values that could favor Me during the sentencing.
Are both My Father and Mother going to show up at the Trial to Plead for Me?
Personally speaking back before there was Crack and when the real Cocaine not prolific and what had been My best Friend (White) wanted to barrow some Money from Me to by and resell Cocaine.
I did not give Him the Money and the Drug use issue was enough to say good by to My former Friend; I have never had contact with Him since then.
I don't know if My Friend did what He planned to do or not but if He got caught and went to Jail for 15 years I would be a little sad about that but otherwise I would not care.
I sat on a Jury where of a Rape Trial where the Black Male Defendant claimed He was a Drug Dealer and could not have left the Building He was in to commit a Rape as He needed to be there to Sell.
But, that is not what I am going to say is about. His Mother testified got on the Stand and testified that He was a good Son?
If I had been using or Selling Drugs My Mother would be the first one to turn Me in; I mean even now that I am in My 60s.
If My Father found out about it He would drag His nearly 90 Year old Body down to My Place and attempt to beat the Crap out of Me (or shoot Me) and then He would turn Me in.