Aa
California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate To Record Low
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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/
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/
Thanks. That makes sense.
Personally I think personal drug use of any drug should be treated as a health issue not a criminal one.
Personally I think personal drug use of any drug should be treated as a health issue not a criminal one.
"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 .
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.
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.
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
