Breaking the Cycle of Recidivism
Rethinking the War on Drugs: Alternatives to Incarceration
A Call for Justice Reform and Equitable Solutions
The United States has been grappling with the war on drugs for decades. This has led to the incarceration of millions of people across the country. In a gesture to provide some of the drug offenders a fresh chance to start on the right path, US presidents have used their clemency privilege to pardon selected offenders in the past. President Biden’s recent exercise of such privilege to pardon individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses is one such example.
While the country has a big problem at hand, the war on drugs seems to have turned more against minorities, pointing towards justice reform and an equitable system.
Aggressive sentencing practices, particularly in minority communities, have created a vicious circle of recidivism and difficulty in reintegration. The disproportionate sentencing, long-term impact of a drug conviction, and stigma of a criminal record…
