Crime & Drugs



Crime & Drugs Lecture Note Outline

Issues to consider for Group Discussion:

1. What has been trend in crime rate since early 1990s, vs. public perceptions of crime? What has been trend in juvenile crime? What has been trend in imprisonment – growth and types of offenses, & what is role of drug offenses? How do rape victims face a second victimization? What is the Prison Industrial Complex? What factors put kids at risk for juvenile delinquency? Why do kids join gangs? What programs can reduce youth offending (Case Study 1)? What services do ex-prisoners need to reduce chances of recidivism / re-offending (Case Study 2&3)? (D&B Ch. 8)

2. Who is in prison, mainly (Class Racial/Ethnic backgrounds)? How is crime related to other social problems (ecnomic, fragile families, R&E inequality, Ed. probs, etc.) ? (D&B, ch. 8)What is the impact of high levels of incarceration on families, children, communities, and future crime? (Clear, C&V rdg. 30)

3. What is the “code of the streets,” & what are the social conditions that led to it? How does “respect” play a role & how does one attain it? What are “decent families” and “street families” & which are more common? What is “oppositional culture” & why does it emerge? How does all of this relate to street crime and drug problems? (Anderson rdg. 27 in Ch & Vig)

4. What is “white-collar crime”? What are some causes of it (beyond greed)? How much does it affect society (cost, esp. compared to street crime)? How widespread is WC crime? How is such crime rational (penalty vs. profit/reward)? (Rosoff & Tillman, #28 C&V; Dolgon and Baker, ch. 8)

2A. What did Lehman Bros. Bank do that led to its collapse, key to current economic crisis (Merced & Sorkin Web rdg.)

2B. What did Wells Fargo and Wachovia Banks do for Mexican drug cartels & is this related to violence? How are the Banks protected from strong penalties for their crimes? (Smith web rdg.)

5. Drug legality-illegality related to health harm, addictiveness, to racial and ethnic inequality? How do drug penalties compare with those for other crimes? Why is the “War on Drugs” mission impossible (profits, balloon / hydra effect, interdiction probs., punishing users)? What are the damages it causes (esp. re: violence and property crime)? How effective is punishment in deterring drug use? (Benavie, #29 in C&V, D&B ch 8)

6. What is Baltimore’s new approach to drug policy ? (Shenk web rdg.) Is drug treatment more effective than imprisonment in reducing drug use and related crime? How does it save $?

7. Is the border “out of control” -- why or why not? How much has border enforcement been increased in recent years / decades AND how has it affected illegal immigration from Mexico – e.g., more likely to come to US, be apprehended, stay shorter or longer? And once here, what is impact of Latino immigrants on crime rates in US? (Massey & Sampson web rdg)

Lecture & Group Discussion Points:

Street Crime –Crime Rate vs. Public perception of crime, types of street crimes (D&B ch 8); “

Drug Crime –Drug Arrest totals trends, vs. other types of crime (D&B ch. 8). Example of new approach—Colorado and Washington state recently legalize marijuana possession, copnflcit with federal policy…

War on Drugs as a failure, but lots more imprisonment -- punishment not deter use, profits are too high, hydra effect re: dealers, largest type of drug arrests are for Marijuana possession, drug prison sentences compared to other crimes; supply & demand key issues underlying drug crime, esp. demand (Benavie rdg. 29 in C&V, D&B ch. 8).

Drug use and addiction as health issue and ways to treat that, instead of as crime issue; & saves $ (Shenk web rdg.).

How are drugs categorized as dangerous by govt --(Schedules 1-5)- health effects role? Realistic assessment?

[Historical roots of drug illegality and relationship to racial prejudice.]

Scenes from movie “Traffic”

Drug Demand in US key to problem

Drug Supply from source countries, & difficulties in stopping, given US demand –

Focus on US drug policy on stopping supply,, but largely unsuccessful…

Link Video to Flaws of War on Drugs (Benavies rdg. 29 in C&V).

US prison Population growth since 1980, & role of increasing drug enforcement (D&B, ch. 8) {see also “prison industrial complex” as part of this growth]

US drug felon prison population vs. US drug user population, & Racial and ethnic inequalities.

White-Collar crime very expensive to society, but little prosecuted, few penalties. (D&B ch. 8)

Examples -Bank money laundering for drug cartels (Smith web rdg.), Fraudulent accounting at Lehman Bros. bank key part of economic collapse (Merced and Sorkin web rdg.)

--Recent Fertilizer plant explosion in Texas as possible example of costs and lack of attention to white-collar crime, does not get same attention but was very deadly and destructive…

“Code of the Streets” Centered on respect, & roots of code, “Decent” families vs. “Street” families. How did “code” emerge, what social conditions in neighborhoods? (Anderson rdg. 28 in Ch & Vig)

War on Drugs losing battle … (Benavie Rdg. 29 in C&V) [See also Balloon effect / Hydra effect in this reading]

Alcohol more dangerous than Marijuana (Benavie Rdg. 29 in C&V)

Baltimore drug policy changes – treat demand side of problem with increased access to drug treatment, cost & crime advantages of treatment over imprisonment for users (Shenk web rdg). [Also, case study at end of D&B ch. 8 also talks about drug and alcohol treatment programs key for ex-offenders staying out of jail.]

Impact of increasing border enforcement on illegal / unauthorized Mexican immigration; & Impact of Latino immigrants on US city crime rates (Massey & Sampson web rdg)

Effect of increasing imprisonment rates on families and communities (Clear rdg. 30 in C&V);

Social Structural Causes or crime, not just individual behavior – lack of legitimate opportunities (D&B ch. 8; also, see Anderson rdg. 27 in Ch & Vig)

& How to reduce crime and prison populations-- Youth programs, social services, more legitimate opportunities, job training, drug rehab. for ex-offenders, etc. (D&B ch. 8)

Not covered but should know

Compare effects of illegal and legal drugs on people – which type is more deadly (Benavie rdg. 29 in C&V)

Link of illegality of drugs to other crimes (Benavie rdg. 29 in C&V)

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