MetaFilter posts tagged with drugs and prison

The Changing Racial Dynamics of the War on Drugs

lunit — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:11:21 -0800

The Changing Racial Dynamics of the War on Drugs. The Sentencing Project has just released a report (pdf) finding that, for the first time in 20 years, the number of Black Americans in state prison for drug offenses has fallen. Between 1999 and 2005, the number of White drug offenders in state prisons rose about 43 percent, while the number of Black offenders declined by 22 percent. One cause may be a rise in the use of drug courts, which are locally administered programs that divert offenders into treatment rather than incarceration. The Sentencing Project has a recent report (pdf) on this issue as well.

A long time on the lam

veedubya — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:22:45 -0800

A southern California family is standing by the wife and mother who lived under a false name and with a colossal secret: Susan M. LeFevre escaped from a Plymouth prison 32 years ago.

Peter Wayne

criticalbill — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:17:23 -0800

Meet Peter Wayne. Prolific literary writer, book reviewer, architectural correspondent, church organist, chronic recidivist, drug addict, released, homeless, back in prison

Thailand life..,

konolia — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:19:22 -0800

A Thailand teen who has had an online presence for ten years... is now doing three yearsin a Thai prison...and with the help of his former teacher is able to tell us about it.

A Crack in the War on Drugs

Avenger — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:31:43 -0800

The US Sentencing Commission has recommended that Federal sentencing guidelines be reduced for crimes involving crack cocaine -- and is now deliberating making the new guidelines retroactive for prisoners already incarcerated. [WaPo] If taken into effect, about 3,800 inmates could be released by this time next year. The disparity in sentencing between crack and powdered cocaine has been well documented. There are now several bills in Congress that would equalize the sentences given for distribution and possession of both substances. Is this an isolated event, or could this be the harbinger of an overall thaw in the War on Drugs? [WaPo - article largely on poppy cultivation, but also dovetails with crack and cocaine]

What will become of Pineapple Face?

Meatbomb — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:55:15 -0800

Manuel Noriega will be getting out of jail soon.

Prison Rape and the War on Drugs

homunculus — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:23:50 -0800

Stories from Inside: Prisoner Rape and the War on Drugs (PDF). A new report by the human rights group Stop Prisoner Rape. [Via Drug WarRant.]

prison industrial what?

sourbrew — Sun, 21 May 2006 19:54:08 -0800

NewsFilter: 1 in every 136 US residents in jail or prison.

Guns don't kill people, bongs kill people

homunculus — Wed, 17 Dec 2003 21:16:18 -0800

Tommy Chong in prison. 3 months into his 9 month prison sentence for selling bongs, the LA City Beat talks to Tommy Chong and the LA Weekly talks with his family about the details of his case. [Via Drug WarRant.]

Step in the right direction for the War on Drugs?

gwint — Fri, 27 Dec 2002 09:11:13 -0800

Michigan to Drop Minimum Sentence Rules for Drug Crimes. Although many people have known for years that minimum sentencing rules for drug offenses are seriously flawed, some states seem to be finally doing something about it.

xowie — Wed, 24 Jul 2002 19:00:01 -0800

Smoke pot, stay out of jail. As your lawyer, I advise you to read this cartoon by Ellen Forney. See also: Bustcard.