Extent of the Offender Population

The Rise of Drug Offenders in the United States

The number of drug offenders in the United States has risen dramatically in recent years. As a result, the number of transgressors in the country has increased. According to Gallagher (2015), the number of convicts serving in various US penal institutions who are predominantly charged with drug offenses has climbed dramatically.

The rate of offenders increased by 22% between 1980 and 1990. By 2010, the expected figure had dropped to 17%. However, the data supplied do not indicate that the population of US prisoners has decreased.

Advantages of Drug Courts

One of the advantages of drug courts is that they are relatively low-cost. In comparison to incarceration, programs offered by these institutions are cheaper. As a result, it becomes more appealing to the states focused on controlling their finances during the difficult economic times.

The drug courts are also considered to be a better form of rehabilitation service for the drug offenders and the society. McPherson and Sauder (2013) indicate that when lawbreakers of the category are taken to prison, they are not offered to undergo any recovery process. On the contrary, the jailed are always released with a prison record which make it difficult for them to secure employment.

Disadvantages of Drug Court Programs

The major disadvantage associated with drug court programs is their inability to satisfy those citizens who are of the opinion that the people who break the law should be heavily punished.

Opinion on Drug Courts

Drug courts are paramount to the United States rehabilitation system. I fully support the initiative since it is more affordable and leads to the reduction in the incidents of drug abuse in the region. Moreover, drug courts offer programs with the aims of rehabilitating the offenders which therefore decreases the number of congestion in the United States prisons.

References

Gallagher, J.R. (2015). Promoting drug court education in schools of social work: Ideas in action. Social Work Education, 34(4), 428-436.

McPherson, C.M., & Sauder, M. (2013). Logics in action: Managing institutional complexity in a drug court. Administrative Science Quarterly, 58(2), 165-196.