When will reformed drug offenders get a break?!?
91062
When will reformed felons of any kind get a break? You serve your time, your punishment is supposed to be over. But it's not. You get out and they tell you to be a good citizen. But you're not a citizen, they force you to be part of a class that's lower then a citizen.\n\n A citizen can vote, a citizen doesn't have to tell every potential employer about some bad thing (that will automatically disqualify you for the job) they may have done years before. A citizen has rights. If police harass a citizen, people care. Your punishment was supposed to have been completed, but it's just begun.\n\nThey expect you to have all the responsibilities of a citizen with none of the benefits. Drug crimes suck even worse, like you said, you can't even get some help to get an education and become a decent citizen. I guess somehow a reformed felon getting an education is a threat. Lord knows, you don't want to give them any HOPE! \n\nThen they wonder why so many people get out of prison and commit crimes again.
103258
First time offenders are still offenders. Illegal substances, are still illegal substances. Just because a few in the minority feel it is "ok" with them, is not a reason to grant easy sentences for the illegal activity.\n\nFace it... Pot is still illegal and until it is legalized, prison time for offenders of the written law is deserved.\n\nPrisons are over-crowded, but this is not an excuse to let people off. The prisons are over-crowded because too many in today's society think that their opinion is greater than the masses or greater than the law. Those who break the law best be prepared to pay the piper.
865145
The reason the prisoners took their case to court was that when they were on the methadone treatment programme, they were receiving support and help to stop using heroin. However when they went to prison the methadone was stopped and they were automatically put into cold turkey situations, no drugs, no alternatives, no support to stop.\n\nMost of the 200 claimed that they have since become drug users again, because the support was not there when they went into cold turkey. They are only getting an average payment of £3,750.\n\nSex addicts could therefore in theory claim too, however the government would be much less likely to settle in these cases, because sex offenders are given counselling to change their ways.
744892
my   brother  is  a  state  prisoner,  for  not  reporting  to  his  probation   officer. my  son  is  in  county  jail,  for  having  a  meth  pipe,  and  fighting  with  his  wife. shes  in  there  too,  for  the  same   charges.
935742
Unfortunately, due to the recent flash of facism these days, he will receive a completely unorthodox amount of time behind bars or probation.\n\nAll you can hope is that the people involved in his case are not a bunch of assholes and will either give him his first offence warning or maybe rehab.
714730
I do not totally agree with you, but I do feel something has to be done. The death penalty maybe a bit harsh, but tougher penalties should be applied to users and dealers alike.\n\nDrugs are the root of 75% of our crime. Your users can not afford their habit and resort in stealing, robbing, and prostitution to pay for more drugs. \n\nYour dealers use violence to protect their investment. A lot of our gangs are heavily into drug trafficking and also use violence to control their drug turf.\n\nThe way the Laws are set up today punishes the dealer more than the user, but if there was no one demanding the drug, then there would be no need for the dealers. That's why the users need the same penalty as the dealer.\n\nIn Texas today, a first time offender caught with less than 2 oz of Marijuana is only breaking a class B Misdemeanor. That's one step above a speeding ticket and usually results in little to no jail time. \n\nNow imagine if the penalty were a Second Degree Felony. That's just below premeditated murder, and comes with not jail time, but hard Prison time for several years. \n\nIf that first time offender knew the risk he was taking in getting caught, I do not believe he would have made the wrong decision.
277558
crack addicts are useless and never to change.....they are a drain on my tax dollars and i for one have had enough of having all my hard earned $$ taken out each month so ......drug addicts can get their welfare cuz of their "disability " and addiction to drugs.......ny needs to clean up!
516476
If you find one, please let me know ASAP. I want to make sure that it is banned by the Feds as quickly as possible...they need more to do, more to stick their noses in, and certainly something more to keep the miserably failed drug program with somethign to do other than hassel US citizens...let's see, let's arrange raids on Chemo patients who benefit from the stuff...that sounds like  great idea, doesn't it???
607280
Stop breaking the law...
454224
I've asked this same question ... makes no sense to me.  "Some" child molestors, people convicted for homicide, murder, rape ... get less time than than drug dealers.  I beleive the governement is pissed because they lose "tax" money on the drug industry so they will at least squander and pilfer the money from the dealers through prison time.
175725
I was convicted for possesing drugs, I was sent to prison for 14 months, while I was in there, there was a guy who  assaulted his girlfriend, then drove around drunk with his 8 month old baby in the car. He was only sentenced to 6 months. It was so sad cause I got there 2 months before he did, and he was set free before I got out. Keep in mind that this was my first offense of any kind, (except traffic tickets). This is just one case, I could tell you a whole bunch of other cases that were Obviously worse than mine, and they got less time than I did....there is no such thing as justice in America!
471899
i personally don't think they do enough to keep drugs off the streets. like where I'm from there are young kids as in 12 and13 yr old that walk the street selling drugs their parents even OK it. i think that our police force sucks and are scared to go into "the hood " and do anything about it. sometimes i feel that they just let most of the big dealers get away with it to keep money into the community. i may be way off base but there is something fishy going on. you get the same offenders out on the street all the time. then lets say they catch some small dealer and tell them hey if you narky on the one higher up you can go free and it wont show up on your record, well of course that's what they are gonna do. then that person will probably be the one to step up and become the big guy. they really need to sit and figure out new ways to get these people off the streets. it is killing our kids, and kids parents. i wish there was something i could do to help. good luck, and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!1
447337
Most drug offenders who are sent to prison are either convicted of Class B offenses (e.g. the sale of any amount of cocaine, regardless of how small) or are second felony offenders convicted of offenses in Classes B-E. The Drug Law Reform Act commendably expands the sentencing options for a first-time Class B offense to include a split sentence of prison and probation. But the lowest sentence that could be imposed on a second felony offender convicted of a Class B felony is a sentence of two and one-half to five years in prison, unless the offender is eligible for diversion to a substance abuse treatment program. In many cases, such a prison sentence would be excessive, yet the Act does not permit a shorter sentence. Nor does it permit alternatives to incarceration for offenders who are not addicted and do not qualify for substance abuse treatment programs. \n\nIf mandatory prison terms are to be retained, the Act should be amended to further reduce the minimum sentences, giving judges a wider sentencing range from which to select the appropriate sentence.
76796
Basic answer: I'm fairly sure it's what is known as a 16-2-3 felony...meaning you can get 16 months, 2 years or 3 years in prison.\n\nDon't freak out.  Post some more information and I can probably narrow that down for you.  Sometimes we charge 11350 and we're wrong.  Here's what I would want to know to give you a better idea:\n\nWhat was the drug?\n\nHow much of it was there?\n\nDoes the arrestee have prior convictions for anything?\n\nIs the arrested person on probation or parole?\n\nAnd above all else, it ain't over until the fat lady sings, and nobody gets punished for anything if they're not guilty.  \n\nPost some more details and I'll keep an eye on this question so I can come back and edit my answer.\n\nDon't tell me anything the police don't already know (in other words, don't tell me your boyfriend got arrested for a quarter gram of cocaine but the cops missed the four kilos at the house).\n\n2/9/06: Well, depending on the county he's on probation in, prison is certainly a possibility.  Failing to appear and having a dirty test are bad enough, but to have more cocaine (and based on the 11350 charge you're asking about, I'm assuming it was coke...meth would be 11377) on him when he was arrested is certainly not good.  He may well have probation revoked and reinstated (basically a "do-over") and might end up with a lengthy stay in jail as a sanction.  I have to tell you, though...depending on the county you guys are in, prison is not out of the question.  Some counties are lenient and others are not.  Prop 36 (not 39) court is a good thing, but you have to behave if you want to stay in it.  \n\nWas he charged with a new possession offense when he was arrested, or are they handling the dope he had on him when he was arrested as just a violation of probation?  I would imagine they'll handle it as a violation of probation, rather than opening a whole new case...and a VOP can sometimes carry a stiffer penalty than a new case.  A lot of this will also depend on what the terms of his probation were when he was put into Prop 36 court.  If he received a suspended sentence (meaning that the judge told him he will send him to prison if he screws up *again*, but will let him do Prop 36 instead), he may very well go to prison on this new violation.  \n\nThere's a lot of variables and once your boyfriend has had a chance to talk with his attorney, he'll have a pretty good idea of where his case is heading.\n\nIf you are really as unfamiliar with drugs as you've said, I've got to suggest that maybe this guy is not for you.  It would appear that he's a little *too* familiar with drugs...and although that wasn't your question, that is my answer.\n\nBest of luck to both of you.
1077619
I wish.  The thing is though, is that people get longer prison sentences with drug violations than people who have committed a murder!  That's just wrong.  And the justice system is way too lenient with child abusers, rapists, and molesters.  How is that the criminals have more rights than those who uphold the law?
1086965
I think the punishments should fit the crime. You are correct that there has been stiffer sentences handed out for drugs than for violent crimes. Different states have their own interpretations of what a small amount of marijuana is, and have their own laws regarding it. For some less than an ounce for recreational use with no distribution intent charge is a petty misdemeanor while other states are quite stringent.  Bottom line though, as long as no one else was affected by their use, make the punishment fit the crime and focus on reducing violence by handing out stiffer penalties for that.
180901
Maybe when the feds realize they don't even have pot in the right classification of drugs. Also when they quit being led around by the drug company lobbyists that want to push synthetic crap that is over rated and over priced and don't work near as well for medical use but I don't see that happening in this life time.  For more info on the efforts to legalize pot visit  site called drug war Chronicles or check out NORML