In recent years, the penalty for selling illegal drugs has been increased sharply. How does that affect the incentive to sell drugs? For the people who decide to sell drugs anyway, what do the higher penalties for dealing do to their incentive to commit other crimes (such as murder ) while they are engaged in selling drugs?
2006-12-09 09:21:17 · 6 answers · asked by Swan S 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The definitive answer to this question was shown by the results of the Rockefeller drug laws passed in NY in the early 1970s. They passed laws that mandated very long sentences for all kinds of minor drug crimes.
A study a few years later showed that the laws had no effect on the use or sale of drugs. The problems continue and, if anything, were even larger.
The one thing that did change was that dealers were more willing to commit violence when threatened with possible arrest. After all, they simply made the judgment that violence wouldn't get them any extra time so they had nothing to lose and everything to gain by committing violence.
Perhaps the best example of what drug laws do to violent crime can be seen in the rise of homicides during alcohol prohibition. You can see a chart of those homicides at http://druglibrary.org/prohibitionresults.htm
If you want further information I recommend that you take a look at the major studies of drugs and drug policy at htttp://druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/studies.htm
Ignore answers from anyone who cannot back up their answer with references. Most people who try to answer questions on drugs really have little to no knowledge of the subject.
2006-12-09 18:52:41 · answer #1 · answered by Cliff Schaffer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
even with stricter penalties people won't stop selling. for those who already do they now have two more ideas-
1- less people will sell due to being imprisioned or being too fearful to do so, so many customers will be looking for new suppliers.
2 - if they get caught its all over, the objective is to not get caught.
The first one will keep the trade going, the second will lead to violence and/or more crime. instead of letting themselves get a small charge they will flee or use their money (ie bribes) to get out of punishment. there could also be a spike in other crimes they are involved in. many pimps sell drugs, they may invest more time in prostitution which will carry a lesser sentence if charged. dealers will kill witnesses and police rather than be arrested.
2006-12-09 18:17:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hope you are not thinking about selling drugs. I would place drug dealers in the same category as murderers, because that's just what they do. They murder, indirectly, young children by turning them into junkies, lives of crime and eventual self destruction. The laws may have been tightened, but not enough to affect the incentive to deal. I think the death penalty for dealers should be made mandatory as it is in countries like Singapore and Taiwan. That is the only incentive that will work.
2006-12-09 17:31:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Probably the same effect it had 20+ years ago when they increased the penalties for selling drugs. It made the dealers more violent when it comes to the police coming to arrest them.
2006-12-09 17:29:00 · answer #4 · answered by ♥ Cassie ♥ 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
it has no effect at all. the only incentive would be to increase the chances of getting caught.
2006-12-09 17:24:26 · answer #5 · answered by epbr123 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The people who are dumb enough to sell drugs are dumb enough to think they won't get caught.
2006-12-09 17:26:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋