Drug offenders sdmitted to prison Essay Example for Free

Drug offenders sdmitted to prison Essay The single greatest force behind the growth of the U. S. prison system since the mid-1980s has been the national war on drugs. 45 Spearheaded by major federal drug policy initiatives that significantly increased penalties for drug offenses and markedly increased federal funds for state anti-drug efforts, federal and state measures to combat drugs have concentrated on criminal law enforcement rather than prevention and treatment. 46 An estimated 400,000 people almost one-quarter of the total incarcerated population in the U. S. are confined in local jails and state and federal prisons on drug charges. 47 Citing the extraordinary number of drug offenders in U. S. prisons, General Barry McCaffrey, has decried the creation of what he termed a drug gulag. 48 Policies adopted to battle the use and sale of drugs have led to marked increases in arrest rates, in the likelihood of going to prison, and in the length of sentences for drug offenders. Between 1980 and 1997, the number of annual drug arrests tripled to a high of 1,584,000. 49 The rate of drug arrests per 100,000 residents rose from 288 to 661. 50 The rate of commitment to state prison per drug arrest quintupled between 1980 and 1990, rising from 19 prison commitments per 1,000 arrests to 103 per 1,000. 51 The estimated time served by drug offenders in state prisons increased a full year between 1987 and 1996; federal drug sentences doubled. 52 As of 1997, there were an estimated 285,009 men and women in state and federal prisons on drug charges, a twelvefold increase since 1980. 53 Relative to the adult population, the rate of incarceration of drug offenders hasincreased almost tenfold, rising from less than 15 inmates per 100,000 adults to 148 per 100,000. 54 In 1980, drug offenders comprised only six percent of state prison populations. By 1998, they constituted 21 percent. In federal prisons, drug offenders now comprise 59 percent of all inmates, whereas they represented only a quarter of federal inmates in 1980. 55 Drug Offenders Admitted to Prison Between 1980 and 1998, the number of new admissions of drug offenders to state and federal prison soared, exceeding 1. 5 million in total (Figure 5). In recent years, about one hundred thousand drug offenders have been admitted to prison annually. Nationwide, 31 percent of all admissions to state prison in 1996 were drug offenders. Among the states, the proportion of drug offenders varied between a low of 10 percent in Maine to a high of 46. 6 percent in New Jersey and 44. 7 percent in New York (Figure 6). In three quarters of the states, more than one in five persons sent to prison was convicted of a drug offense. In contrast, violent offenders accounted nationwide for only 26. 8 percent of new state prison admissions. Rate of Admission of Drug Offenders There is a remarkable range in the extent to which states subject their populations to incarceration on drug charges (Table 8). The rates of admission of drug offenders to prison per 100,000 adult residents vary from a low of 6 per 100,000 in Maine to a high of 91 in California. The ten states that have the highest rates of drug offender admissions relative to population are: California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. Nationwide, drug offenders are sent to prison at a rate, relative to population, that is 13 percent higher than the rate for violent offenders (Table 9). In one half of the states reporting to NCRP, the admission rates for drug offenders exceed those for persons convicted of violent crimes. Six states Arkansas, California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia send drug offenders to prison at rates that range from 50 to 100 percent higher than the rates for violent offenders. Drug Offending and Prison Admissions The broad range in admission rates for drug offenders across the country cannot be ascribed simply to variations in drug use and sales in different states. Table 10, covering twenty six states, presents federal estimates of the percentage of the population over 12 in those states who were current illicit drug users in 1991-1993. 56 Although some drug users may cross state lines to purchase drugs, we assume that relative rates of drug use in each state also roughly reflect relative amounts of drug sale activity. Comparing drug use rates with calculations of the rate relative to population at which drug offenders in those states were sent to prison reveals the lack of a consistent correlation between drug offending and the imprisonment of drug offenders. First, the percentage of the population that used drugs varied among states from 4. 1 to 8. 2 percent, compared to a range in drug offender admission rates that extended from 8 to 91. Second, the states with higher rates of drug use were not necessarily the states with higher drug offender admission rates. Oregon, for example, had the third highest percentage of drug use, yet it had one of the lowest rates of drug admissions. In contrast, California had both the highest rate of drug use and the highest rate of drug offender admissions. Third, lower drug use did not necessarily correlate with low drug offender admissions rates. The percentage of Illinois population that used drugs was quite low, yet the statehad the second highest rate of drug offender admissions. Similarly, Louisiana had a relatively low rate of drug use yet it had one of the highest rates of drug admissions. Obviously, no definitive conclusions can be drawn from a comparison of these two rather crude sets of figures. Nevertheless, the data suggest the explanation for the different rates at which people are sent to prison for drug offenses must lie in different penal policies and priorities among the states, including different law enforcement resources and strategies, prosecutorial charging preferences, and sentencing laws, as well as structural and demographic factors, e. g. , degrees of urbanization, rather than rates of drug offending. Drugs Involved In Offense The NCRP data does not permit reliable calculations about the extent to which different hard drugs (e. g. , cocaine, amphetamines, heroin) were involved in drug offenses. The data is somewhat better with regard to the identification of marijuana offenses, which were identified as the drug involved in 4. 3 percent of all drug admissions. 57 In nine states marijuana offenses accounted for more than ten percent of drug admissions: Alabama (16. 09), Iowa (17. 22), Kentucky (12. 4), Mississippi (14. 50), New Hampshire (28. 83), North Dakota (43. 02), South Carolina (11. 25), South Dakota (18. 3), and West Virginia (20. 63) (Table 11). Type of Drug Conduct People are sent to prison for both drug possession and sales-related conduct. In 1996, the simple possession of drugs (excluding possession with intent to sell) was the most serious conviction offense for 28 percent of all drug offenders admitted to state prison (Table 12). Fifty-six percent of drug offender admissions were for drug sales, and the rest for other drug-related offenses (e. g. , fraudulent prescriptions and unlawful possession of syringes). In nine states (Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Virginia) more than 50 percent of drug offenders sent to prison were convicted of simple possession.

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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that affects people who have witnessed/experienced a traumatic or terrifying event that causes intense mental issues. PTSD is usually found in war veterans, rape victims, or murder witnesses. Anyone who suffers from PTSD has a large option of treatments to choose from. About 3.6% of adult Americans (5.2 million people) suffer from PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental disorder in which people who have had a traumatic experience that mentally scars them, the symptoms of PTSD usually can cause intense situations in everyday life, but the victims have a whole lot of treatments they can choose from. 3.6% of adults in America suffer from PTSD in 1 year and 7.8 million Americans will or have experienced PTSD in their life. Women run a higher risk of developing PTSD more than men because they are victimized more then men in domestic violence, abuse, and rape. If PTSD symptoms are diagnosed, a doctor will evaluate medical history and conduct a physical exam. The doctor might also test for common symptoms of physical illnesses. If no physical illnesses are found, they may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially trained to interview and assess tools to evaluate a patient for an anxiety disorder. The doctor bases their diagnosis of PTSD on any reported problems with functioning caused by the symptoms. The doctor then determines if the symptoms and degree of dysfunction indicates PTSD. The diagnosis of PTSD is determined if the person’s symptoms have lasted more than one month. Everyone that has Witnesses a traumatic event reacts differently. Each person is unique in their ability to manage fear and stress and cope with the threa... ...and emotional conflicts caused by the traumatic event. Family therapy is useful because the behavior of the PTSD victim can have an effect on the other members of their family, so getting the family together to help cope with the PTSD. Group therapy helps by allowing the victim to share thoughts and feelings with other people who have also experienced and had PTSD. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a complex form of psychotherapy alleviates distress linked with traumatic memories but also treats phobias. PTSD is a mental disorder in which a victim can become hostile in everyday situations but they have many treatments that can help them with their disorder. Ms. Nordin is an English teacher. Treatments for PTSD can include medicine or psychology. PTSD mostly occurs in war veterans. PTSD is no laughing matter and should be treated as soon as possible.

Application of Clinical Psychology

Application of Clinical Psychology Jennifer Simpson Psy-480 March 4, 2013 Application of Clinical Psychology Introduction Winona Ryder is famous for more than the movies that she starred in over the years. News reporters gathered to gain more information in regards to this famous actress gone astray. In 2001 Ryder made the news for something that was not entertaining but gained quite a bit of public knowledge. The actual incident was only part of the information that the public was curious about.The treatment and the reasoning for the off behavior were desired in order to better understand the issue that had haunted Ryder. Ryder is known as a kleptomaniac and her struggle became public after she was arrested for the theft of thousands of dollars in merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue. Brief Overview: Wynona Ryder Arrested in 2001 and charged with grand theft and burglary, Winona Ryder reportedly has had previous shoplifting accounts as well (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Her tumult uous childhood experiences (bullied for her appearance) accompanied with hippie-like parents caused Winona tremendous unease.According to Meyer, Chapman, and Weaver (2009); â€Å"Eventually, her parents removed her from public school and home schooled her until she graduated† (p. 239). After moving to Petaluma, California, at age 10, Winona â€Å"enrolled in acting classes at the American Conservatory Theater† (Lee, 2011, para 2). Winona’s extreme childhood experiences may have led her to develop interpersonally generated anxiety (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). As an adult, she experiences occasional panic attacks, insomnia, physical exhaustion, and stress from negative media attention. Read also Memory – ForgettingThese cumulative issues accompanied with her relationship break with Johnny Depp caused her to check herself into a psychiatric clinic for treatment. Because of her psychological distress, her psychiatrist prescribed her sleeping pills. Winona allegedly became reliant on pain medication as well (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Kleptomania often accompanies other psychological disorders, including anxiety, irrational impulse control, and depression (Labi & McDowell, 2002). Winona could easily afford to purchase everything she stole.According to Labi and McDowell (2002); â€Å"Experts today are more inclined to compare recreational larceny to thrill-seeking behaviors like bungee jumping or to addictions like drug abuse or compulsive gambling† (para 4). Stealing behaviors and the (pleasure) rush associated with getting-away-with-it often become addictive. In addition, the stealing behavior often becomes a reward that some individuals believe t hey deserve (Labi & McDowell, 2002). Biological, Psychological, and Social Factors: Wynona Ryder/Kleptomania As with many disorders, there are certain factors that play important roles in the development of kleptomania.Studies have shown that although more research is needed to prove biological factors are connected with kleptomania, this impulsive disease has been proven to be more common in females than in males and may be connected to low levels of serotonin in the brain which affect mood and emotion regulation. Psychological factors involved in the case of Wynona Ryder and her kleptomania seem to be more of the key components than any other factors. Stress related instances that occur abruptly and conflicts in relationships both are connected to kleptomania and to Ryder.The multiple moves in her childhood and the negative relationships with the other children in school, along with her failed relationship with Johnny Depp are some examples of what could have aided in the developm ent of the impulsive disorder for Ryder. Her admitted bouts with anxiety and depression are also psychological factors that have been proven to connect with kleptomania since Ryder clearly could pay for the items she stole, it would be fair to say that her actions were more for anti-depressive purposes rather than monetary or usefulness.Substance abuse was discovered in Ryder’s life and has also been proven to be connected to impulsive disorders, especially, but not limited to kleptomania. Other factors that have been connected with kleptomania are social factors such as social phobia, but with Ryder starring in many big deal movies, and some not so big deal, social phobia does not seem to be an issue for her. However, if one goes back to Ryder’s childhood and the bullying she suffered at the hands of her peers during such a vulnerable time in her life, kleptomania ust may be the way that she deals with a fear of social connections or relationships – a way for R yder to cope with the emotional scars she may carry from her childhood. Clinical Psychology Interventions: Kleptomania The therapy offered to the client with Kleptomania is the cognitive-behavioral therapy. The behavioral and substance addictions are similar to Kleptomania. Choosing the cognitive-behavioral therapy comes from a convincing validation of the research into Kleptomania as a behavioral addiction (Grant, 2006).The therapy would attempt to alter the clients’ unwanted behaviors and thoughts through the cognitive restructuring and behavioral therapy to the thoughts and behaviors wanted for the individual. This type of therapy can assist in the replacing of the individual’s impulse to steal with the feelings of relaxation as in the Systematic Desensitization model of the cognitive-behavioral approach. The systematic desensitization therapy that replaces the urge to steal with relaxation feelings could also assist in treating the client’s symptoms of anxie ty (Grant, 2006). The setting for this intervention is the clinical office of the therapist.This is so that the clients who could be ashamed or embarrassed about their issue can speak openly and freely with the professionals. These meetings should include the client, the therapist, and the professional who prescribes the clients antianxiety and antidepressant medications. Under the circumstances of some disorders that require medication, collaborations between the client and the professionals involved is essential for the clients proper treatment. The areas targeted by this therapy will assist the individual’s maladaptive ways of thinking and problematic behaviors.A cognitive-behavioral approach to the client’s treatment can help to provide the client with new and different coping skills to deal effectively with the impulse to steal, and the anxiety issues of the client. Conclusion Individuals that are affected by kleptomania do not all have the same background or even share the same daily struggles. These individuals walk different paths and struggle with many different types of kleptomania from gambling to stealing. Any one issue that takes away from an individual’s ability to better focus by needing the rush that comes with accomplishing he unnecessary task becomes a sign of kleptomania. Assisting individuals with the proper treatment at an early stage will allow the professionals to help them conquer the problems with which they struggle. These individuals need to be given the proper coping tools to refuse the anxiety and depression that lead them to perform such unwanted tasks. Once a patient has accomplished these coping skills, they will gain self confidence in their daily struggles and know that they can and will succeed. Reference Grant, J. E. (2006). Understanding and Treating Kleptomania: New Models and New Treatments.The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 43(2), 81-87. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com . ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/docview/236926707? Labi, N. , & McDowell, J. (2002). Why Did She Do It?. Time, 160(21), 69. Retrieved from http://web. ebscohost. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/ehost Lee, K. (2012). Biography for Winona Ryder. Internet Movie Database (IMDB). Retrieved from http://www. imdb. com/name/nm0000213/bio Meyer, R. G. , Chapman, L. K. , & Weaver, C. M. (2009). Case studies in abnormal behavior (8th ed. ). Boston, MA: Pearson Education/Allyn & Bacon.

African Youth And Moral Panics Essay - 1062 Words

African youth and Moral Panics African youth crime and the portrayal of black youths in the media has generated substantial publicity over the years. In part because statistics show that black youths committed a disproportionate amount of crime, however the media is known to exaggerate news stories by creating moral panics. Moral panic refers to the exaggerated outburst of public concern over the morality and behavior of particular groups in society. African youths in particular are portrayed negatively in the media while the moral panic surrounding African male crime is exaggerated. This led to negative responses by society in regards to Africans since they were labelled as crime perpetuators and muggers (theft). Also, crime maps that display criminal activities within cities showed an increase in the usage of moral panics to depict the world as more dangerous in order to control African youth through police, surveillance, and other punitive measures. Moral panics portrayed black yo uths negatively through their exaggeration of African crime in media, their association with labels of mugging, and their over-representation within crime maps. Moral Panics: The construction of a negative identity As African youth and crime are at the root of moral panics it is necessary to understand why African youth crime is exaggerated and highlighted in mainstream media. In Rethinking ‘Moral Panic’ for Multi-Mediated Social Worlds, Angela McRobbie and Sarah Thornton (1995) explain thatShow MoreRelatedThe representation of youth in a clockwork orange and If....1437 Words   |  6 Pagesrepresentation of youths in ‘A Clockwork Orange’ and ‘If†¦.’ I will be investigating how youth is represented in the films A clockwork orange (1972) and If†¦. (1968) and how the films affected the views of the time and how the films influenced youths. 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