My topic for this paper is Law enforcement’s war on drugs. Basically, the evolution of the War on Drugs, its impact on law enforcement practices, and its relevance today. This is for my Historical and Contemporary Criminal Justice class. Grab citations from the text “A History of Modern American Criminal Justice”, Joseph Spillane & David Wolcott. Sage, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-4129-8134-7. and online sources, preferrably peer reviewed. Attatched are my professors instructions for the paper and syllabus/class information. Possible directions for writing:
- Discuss the origins of the War on Drugs:
- Early narcotics control efforts (e.g., Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914, Marijuana Tax Act of 1937).
- President Nixon’s declaration in 1971, the creation of the DEA, and initial strategies.
- Highlight major developments during the Reagan era, such as the Anti-Drug Abuse Act (1986) and its impact on sentencing laws.
- Policing Practices:
- The shift from community policing to militarized tactics (e.g., SWAT teams, no-knock warrants).
- The use of federal funding (e.g., Byrne Grants) to incentivize drug-related arrests.
- Socioeconomic Implications:
- Discuss how enforcement disproportionately targeted communities of color.
- Examine the role of stop-and-frisk and asset forfeiture laws.
- Challenges and Criticism:
- Analyze whether the War on Drugs reduced crime or simply increased incarceration rates.
- Explore how changing attitudes (e.g., marijuana legalization) are reshaping policies.
- Discuss current movements toward harm reduction strategies, such as decriminalization or treatment-focused approaches.