How can someone spend more time in prison for drugs than they do for rape,murder,lude molestation?

Question

We sentence drug dealers to 20 years to life but if I go out and a gun and kill someone for no reason I'll spend only 7-10 years max for pre-meditated murder

Answer 1

In order to get votes from "good people," politicians tell us they will get "tough on crime." This usually follows high profile kidnapping cases or something similar that outrage everyone.

THe problem is, they really can't do anything about the kidnapping/murder cases because those people aren't detectable until they do something awful.

With drugs, it's easy to catch someone, whether they're an addict or a dad burning a joint after a long day at work. Someone will tell, sooner or later, to save their own butt. Politicians are how we wound up with mandatory minimums.

Politicians are how we wound up with RICO laws, which are so obtuse NO one can figure out what the H they really mean.

My husband is in his 26th year of a 41 year sentence. For what? Possession of less than four ounces of cocaine. He had no murder convictions, he never molested a child, he never even kicked a dog. But he was different back in the 70s when different was scary, and between RICO and the politicians, they got him.

Since then, I have only seen the situation get worse, with so many people in prison that have no business there.

Per your question, I also know of a man who murdered his wife in a drunken fit, did five years, and when he got out, he even got his old job back. Hey, no hard feelings, right? She's dead, won't be back, but these things happen, per his old boss.

Justice in America???? ABout as realistic as the Prison Break series.

Answer 2

If the Law was really there to protect ordinary people attacks on people would bring the highest penalties, all prisoners would face a similar regime and police would not be taken off investigating crimes against the person to protect employers against strike pickets.

As you point out, attacks on ordinary people get relatively light sentences. It is also the case that business men, who rob millions serve their sentences in comfortable "open" prisons from which they can continue to run their businesses. Remember Mr. Saunders, the Guiness Director, who was let out on the grounds that he had Alzheimers and was miraculously cured upon release.

Despite the fact that some housing estates hardly ever see a copper, and 999 calls get a visit the next day, if at all, unlimited manpower is available for situations like the Wapping print dispute and the Miner's Strike.

I f someone breaks into your house and steals your stuff, you will get a Crime Number over the phone and a visit 2/3 days later. But if a harmless loony gets into Buck House and makes small talk with the Queen the boys in blue are on the spot right away

Answer 3

Because the laws and justice system are so screwed up. I have asked that question so many times, they spend so much time, money, manpower etc. filling up the prisons and jails with minor crimes instead of trying to find and stop the rapists, murderers, child molesters, violent offenders, etc., and then when they do bother to get some of em they let them out to do it again in no time. It really sucks, and it really shows a lack of common sense in the justice system.

Answer 4

Drug dealers should get 20 years to life.

Show me where getting 7 to 10 *max* for premeditated murder is the norm and not the exception.

Your statement is just false.

Answer 5

Pround_2ba_American assumes that the question relates to the USA. It could be, for instance, the UK. If that is the case, it is a valid question, which deserves a response from elected representatives.

In any case, I think the real dealers (not necesarily the street peddlers who sell to fund their habit) deserve as long as murderers and rapists, but not more.

Answer 6

I don't know what state your from, but in most 1st degree murder is life without parole on your 1st offense.

So you 7-10 years max is bad information.

Answer 7

I live in Australia and someone i know here went to jail for 7yrs for breaking and entry. there was a man in there who got 3 months for raping a 4yr old..... the laws were made to protect property not people if u ask me.

Answer 8

Because drugs affect more voters than murders do. It's all about the voters, if the government can get them then they can continue to get paid fat salaries for doing nothing other than PR.

Answer 9

yes because thats what the government has made it to be.They are more worried about someone getting a buzz or making more money than them than they are of their families,teachers,or friends molesting,killing ,or raping their child.

Answer 10

Only in America, huh?