California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate To Record Low

[orphanedhawk]

Between 2010 and 2011, California experienced a drastic 20 percent decrease in juvenile crime--bringing the underage crime rate to the lowest level since the state started keeping records in 1954.

According to a recently released study, much of that improvement can be credited to the decriminalization of marijuana.

The study, entitled "California Youth Crime Plunges to All-Time Low" and released by the San Francisco-based Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, looked at the number of people under the age of 18 who were arrested in the state over the past eight decades. The research not only found juvenile crime to be at its lowest level ever but, in the wake of then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signing a bill reducing the punishment for possessing a small amount of marijuana from a misdemeanor to simply an infraction, the drop in rates was particularity significant.

In that one-year period, the number of arrests for violent crimes dropped by 16 percent, homicide went down by 26 percent and drug arrests decreased by nearly 50 percent.

The category of drug arrests showed decreases in every type of crime; however, the vast majority of the drop resulted from far fewer arrests for marijuana possession. In 2010, marijuana possession accounted for 64 percent of all drug arrests, and in 2011, that number decreased to only 46 percent.

California's drop in serious youth crime has decreased faster than in the rest of the nation.

[orphanedhawk]

The study's authors discount a host of explanations as to why juvenile crime has dropped so precipitously (such as changes in the way the statistics are gathered, demographic changes, harsher sentences acting as a deterrent and other cultural factors like family connections). They assert that only two major factors explain the trend: the loosening of marijuana laws and improvements in the economic well-being of California's youth.

AlterNet reports:

    California’s 2010 law did not legalize marijuana, but it officially knocked down "simple" possession of less than one ounce to an infraction from a misdemeanor--and it applies to minors, not just people over 21. Police don’t arrest people for infractions; usually, they ticket them. And infractions are punishable not by jail time, but by fines--a $100 fine in California in the case of less than one ounce of pot.

    "I think it was pretty courageous not to put an age limit on it," said Males, a longtime researcher on juvenile justice and a former sociology professor at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Arresting and putting low-level juvenile offenders into the criminal-justice system pulls many kids deeper into trouble rather than turning them around, Males said, a conclusion many law-enforcement experts share.

"We haven't seen this low of a number since 1970," Sacramento County Chief Probation Officer Don Meyer told Rosemont Patch. "We now get an average of seven [juveniles] a day, and that's come down from 20 a day."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/28/california-marijuana-decriminalization-_n_2205997.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

[teko]

Now you know, they are not going to put up with that loss in revenue for very long. At least when it comes to the adults using and they can make boocoo bucks off their offenses. This is going to be interesting to watch. LOL

[orphanedhawk]

There's also big bucks to be made on legal pot:)

[adgal]

What I am getting out of this story is that the drop is due to lack of arrests being made for pot use.  While I am all for decriminilization, I do believe action needs to be taken when it's used underage.  I would not be pro arresting them, but I believe it should be treated much the same way as underage drinking.  Young developing brains should not be using stimulants like that.  

Still, the criminal justice system is not the place for this type of action, and Im glad young people are not winding up with permanent criminal records that could impact the rest of their lives for trying pot.  That makes no sense to me.

[Vance2335]

If you decrimlize robbery/burglery then you see a drop in adult crime rate. Any why not make murder legal also? Then the US will have the lowest crime rates in the world.

[hrsepwrguy]

I understand your point but how can you possibly compare robbery/burglary/murder to simple possession of marijuana, not even close to being in the same category.

If we went back to alcohol prohibition the crime rate would go up by leaps and bounds !!!

[Vance2335]

I'm not, I am trying to point out how dumb the story is. Of course if you make something legal then crime rate will drop.

[orphanedhawk]

I thought of kids being stoned and kick back instead of jacked up and violent, which can happen on alcohol. People often get into fights when they drink too much. They fall asleep if they smoke too much pot.

[hrsepwrguy]

"Arresting and putting low-level juvenile offenders into the criminal-justice system pulls many kids deeper into trouble rather than turning them around, Males said, a conclusion many law-enforcement experts share"

I thought this was more the point of the article than the actual reduction in the crime rate and if you really want to get in to the economics of the reduction of prosecution of small amounts of MJ, here is a look from WA

Prosecution: The average cost for prosecuting a misdemeanor crime is approximately $983 per case (2009 LGFN prosecutor survey).

Public defender costs: Approximately 93 percent of misdemeanor cases qualify for public defender representation. The range of public defender representation is approximately $935 to $1,473 per case, for an average cost of $1,204 (LGFN 2010 indigent defender data). Jail costs: A person convicted of a misdemeanor would serve their sentence in jail (a local cost). It is not clear what the average sentence for this crime would be. According to the AOC 2009 misdemeanor convictions table the average jail sentence for possession of marijuana of less than 40 grams was 82.7 days, with all but 4.4 days suspended. The daily jail bed rate is $76, according to the LGFN 2009 jail cost survey (weighted by population). The cost of a sentence would be $365 (4.4 days x $76 a day = $334). The combined reduction in costs for each misdemeanor not charged, prosecuted, defended, sentenced, and jail time not served is $2,552
($983 prosecution + $1,204 defense + $334 jail = $2,521).

If all misdemeanor cases in 2010 for possession of less than 40 grams of marijuana had not been tried and sentences not served, the reduction in local government expenditures would be $8,284,006 (3,286 cases x $2,521 per case = $8,284,006).

http://intellectualconversation.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/cost-of-marijuana-arrests-jail-wa-state/

[orphanedhawk]

Thanks. That makes sense.

Personally I think personal drug use of any drug should be treated as a health issue not a criminal one.

[rivll]

"Arresting and putting low-level juvenile offenders into the criminal-justice system pulls many kids deeper into trouble rather than turning them around, Males said, a conclusion many law-enforcement experts share"

That is so very true. I really saw that happening in my own youth as well as a HS teacher. Many kids who were not really criminals ended up in the system and became criminal without may other options available to them but the jailhouse schooling.
Adgal-
I would not be pro arresting them, but I believe it should be treated much the same way as underage drinking.  Young developing brains should not be using stimulants like that.  
This is also a very good point. I am not sure what can be done about it.
I read once that being involved in sports has helped decrease teen pregnancy for those who seriously get involved. My guess would be recreational drug use could be minimized with the same sort of commitment to something positive, like sports, the arts, academia or purposeful volunteer work .

[adgal]

I absolutely agree that the criminal justice system is not the place for young people experimenting with stimulants.  A criminal record can absolutely destroy their lives and I also fully agree that it can pull them further into a less then desirable life style.  It simply doesn't work.

I always come back to the answer lying in both education, and more opportunities for treatment.  We need to help our young people make better choices.  Educate them on the real dangers of using these types of products - alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc.  And start young.  We also need to teach parents how to better handle these issues - so many seem lost on how to work with their children.  And empower parents to have more power to force their child into treatment if necessary.  

OH, I also 100% agree with your statement that this is a health issue, not a legal one.  We have already proven that strict laws doesn't help stop anything - we need another approach.  And I still maintain that jailing a drug user of any age doesn't do a bit of good, and costs a fortune.  It's just not the answer in my opinion.

[orphanedhawk]

I just stumbled onto this fact concerning cost savings of legalizing pot:

The government would save an estimated $13.7 billion on prohibition enforcement costs and tax revenue by legalizing marijuana, according to a paper endorsed by 300 economists.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/federal-marijuana-legaliz_n_2131876.html?utm_hp_ref=campaign-to-regulate-marijuana-like-alcohol

[teko]

Honestly, we have more people dying from prescription drugs being administered by doctors and the like that smoking pot seems to be really over hyped these days. Prescribing meds for things like back pain that slow the central nervous system and then taking something else for another condition and a drink of alcohol is the latest big drug offense. I watched a program about this on television last night and they said the USA consumes 88 percent of the worlds narcotics. Now THAT is scary! And those are legal being handed out by doctors. Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, percocet and the like.

[specialmom]

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana

Marijuana is not harmless.  

[specialmom]

http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/parents_marijuana_brochure.pdf


I will be so upset if my children when teenagers turn to pot for their jollies.  There are many problems associated with the abuse of marijauna and yes, other drugs are bad too, but pot has many issues associated with it when abused.  

I would never condone usage of drugs or laws that make it easier.  

[nursegirl6572]

No doubt the abuse of Rx drugs is a HUGE problem, but to me, it's apples and oranges.

They have started cracking down on Rx abuse...they have a long way to go, though.  While I don't think pot is in the same category as coacaine, and heroin, and other more dangerous illicit drugs, I don't think it's harmless.  

For many it IS a gateway drug.  You could argue that alcohol is too, and I'd even agree to a point, but we're discussing marijuana, and for the vast majority of the country, it's still illegal.

I get the decriminalization issue, I do...but I don't think making it legal is the answer to that.  Perhaps a reassessment of the laws?

[MrsPincince]

Legalize it EVERYWHERE....It's a excellent money maker for the government...Just look at cigarettes..Almost $10 a pack and they kill you eventually.....

[specialmom]

Oh yes, I'd be thrilled to walk into a convenience store and watching people buy pot when getting milk for my kids.  That would be lovely.  

I'm hoping that there are enough people like me to make anything like legalizing EVERYWHERE difficult.  

And if it is legalized, it should take some time with all the laws they'd have to add to the books.  Where sold, who can buy (will there be an age in which we say "hey, it's fine.  Go get high, smell bad, have glazed eyes, and do sub par work be it school or your job."  Speaking of jobs, okay to toke up during the work day?  What about driving?  What is the legal limit or is it SOOOO  safe that we don't need to worry about a legal limit?

tongue in cheek on the safe part because marijauna is not harmless.  It is a dangerous drug when abused.  

I hope I help my kids understand the dangers of using pot or any drug in a recreational fashion even if my government won't help me anymore.  

[Vance2335]

IDIOTS

[hrsepwrguy]

"IDIOTS"

Thomas Jefferson received the United States fist patent; A hemp thrashing machine. He also smuggled new strains of the cannabis seed from China, to France, Then to America, all awhile serving as ambassador to France. Jefferson also wrote about the advantages of hemp over tobacco, in use, labor and for the sake of the land, probably on hemp paper.

Benjamin Franklin owned one of the first paper mills that processed hemp into parchment, that of which was used in many first drafts that later became the documents that America stands by. The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”, the Federalist (and Anti-Federalist) Papers, the Articles of Confederation, and of course the United States Constitution were all written on hemp paper.

George Washington not only grew hemp for clothes (home spun), he actually has a quote from his diary from August 7, 1765: "— began to separate the male from the female hemp at Do — rather too late." It is debatable, but today that technique is used solely for drug potency in marijuana. There are a few trace evidences to the idea that our founding fathers smoked hemp for pleasure, but it seems likely.

[specialmom]

Using hemp for various uses such as paper or clothing to me is different than smoking it.  Our culture is just going in a direction that bothers me.  This board is very pro legalization and it seems some states agree with them.  However, if I am ever given a chance to vote on it in my state, I will vote against it.  If I am in the minority, well, that is life.  But I see it as such a shame that so many want this to be the direction our country takes.  The message that pot is not legal, a crime to smoke is one I count on to help drive home to my children that it is a bad idea.  And in my heart of hearts, I think it IS a bad idea.  

[nursegirl6572]

Cigarettes, again, apples and oranges, IMO.  Nicotine is not a substance that causes intoxication, or impairment.

[hrsepwrguy]

"Using hemp for various uses such as paper or clothing to me is different than smoking it"

I agree, however to add to the above post

Were the Presidents Hemp Smokers?

Dr. Burke, who is a president of the American Historical Reference Society, has noted seven of the earliest presidents as hemp smokers: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor and Franklin Pierce. According to Dr. Burke, “Early letters from our founding fathers refer to the pleasures of hemp smoking,”

I know you are a strong opponent of the legalization of MJ and I truly admire your standing by what you believe in, it is a great quality and I wouldn't expect anything less from you :)