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skatealex2
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Registered: 07/04/08
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California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate To Record Low
#17307687 - 11/30/12 08:02 AM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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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.
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
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joshisstoned
Motorcycle Enthusiast
Registered: 05/24/09
Posts: 3,544
Loc: Ohio
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Re: California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate To Record Low [Re: skatealex2]
#17307739 - 11/30/12 08:22 AM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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It seems like a ripple effect. You do one small thing and it has unforeseen consequences. Who'd have thought that reducing pot charges could hinder violent crime, although it seems logical. The more risk for simple possession means more risk for higher crimes and more risk means more danger...i.e more violence. Idk. I see a correlation, now it's been proven accurate.
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atwas
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Registered: 10/07/12
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Re: California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate To Record Low [Re: joshisstoned]
#17309732 - 11/30/12 03:16 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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I've tried explaining to people why legalizing cannabis would help lower crime. They don't get it. To half of the country, this plant is a "dangerous drug". There are so many reasons to legalize it, but so many people are so brainwashed that nothing will make them understand the truth. Luckily, the younger generation knows the truth about it. Sadly, most of them aren't responsible with it (or other drugs) and they could make it stay illegal.
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screamphilling
Stranger
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Re: California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate To Record Low [Re: atwas] 1
#17310000 - 11/30/12 04:01 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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"maybe everyone just started chilling the fuck out"
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Tripbin
Registered: 03/21/12
Posts: 201
Last seen: 9 years, 7 months
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Re: California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate To Record Low [Re: screamphilling]
#17311854 - 11/30/12 09:06 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Its a shame 99% of America is stupid as fuck. They will dismiss these findings as liberal brainwashing and try to tell us reducing punishment for drugs increases crime. shit the drug czar says that now. My faith in humanity died when even after the complete failure of George Bush and Barrack Obama 98%-99% of Americans voted for either a democrat or republican. Meaning only 1%-2% of our population had brains enough to realize both parties work for the same people and have no interest in fixing america.smh
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Salomon
ಠ︵ಠ balance ಠ_ಠ weaver ಠ‿ಠ
Registered: 01/17/09
Posts: 25,128
Loc: America, FUCK YEAH
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Re: California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate To Record Low [Re: Tripbin]
#17319155 - 12/02/12 06:43 AM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Tripbin said: Its a shame 99% of America is stupid as fuck. They will dismiss these findings as liberal brainwashing and try to tell us reducing punishment for drugs increases crime. shit the drug czar says that now. My faith in humanity died when even after the complete failure of George Bush and Barrack Obama 98%-99% of Americans voted for either a democrat or republican. Meaning only 1%-2% of our population had brains enough to realize both parties work for the same people and have no interest in fixing america.smh
79% of all statics are made up on the spot
-------------------- EVERYTHING EVENTUALLY BECOMES A DESERT
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