The situation varies from state to state, but it is quite unusual for a “small time dope head” to get prison time. In the large blue states it is unheard of. It’s probably more common in the Bible Belt and AZ/NV/UT, but I am not an expert on those areas.
Now, are there big-time drug dealers in prison? Yes.
Are there violent animals who copped a plea to a drug misdemeanor because his victims refused to talk? Absolutely.
But the fundamental problem is that the crime rate in this country is at LEAST 2-3x as high as it was 50 years ago. For the most part this is due to liberal social policies and the breakdown of the traditional family - NOT overly aggressive prosecution of criminals. It wasn’t too long ago that most Americans slept with their doors unlocked.
It’s not your imagination - the situation really is getting worse. And, with tens of millions of anchor babies reaching gangbanger age in the next decade or two, the fun is only beginning.
Last week, working with the courts I had the opportunity to watch our legal system in action. A 17 year old arrested due to a traffic violation with a group of 18 and 19 year olds was stopped. The officer smelled marijuana, and all denied using or having it. The officer searched the car and found a bag 1/2 ounce- none claimed it. All were drug tested, all showed up positive, all were arrested, and charged with having marijuana in their system. ( we now have bladder police)
The 17 year old was placed on probation, and drug tested weekly by the state. On the fourth week, she showed positive for 16 nanograms of marijuana- this was two hits of pot. The judge asked me the therapist what should happen and the PO both of us recommended counseling and house arrest. She was a B student, no priors etc...
The judge decided that he wanted to teach her a lesson. He sent her to jail for 5 days ignoring the therapist and the probation officer recommendation.
18 people stood in the court room about this case- judges, to lawyers, to counselors, to probation officers etc...
What did this cost the taxpayer? She was taken in shackles
betcha a hundred bucks that when this kid gets off probation she smokes a joint again.
This is a huge waste of my money.The war on drugs has failed. It doesn’t work
Give it up.
How quickly we forget prohibiiton
If you want to eliminate the drug problem- educate don’t incarcerate for this crap.
It was a new jail - beds had to be filled-
we spend more on incarceration than on education. thats backwards folks.