TUCSON CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER It is now fairly well-known that the United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. Our "Land of the Free" not only has the largest prison and jail population in the world (despite having only a quarter of the general population of China or India), but also locks its people up at the highest percentage of any country in the world. This is alarming, tragic, and difficult to reconcile with our notions of liberty and justice for all. Did you know, however, that Arizona's tough sentencing laws have made it the ninth-highest ranking state for incarceration rates? While neighboring California, for example, is seeking to implement criminal justice reforms that will reduce the prison population, the same has not been nearly as prevalent in Arizona. Though marijuana legalization in 2021 has narrowed the scope of crimes, harsh prison sentences are still handed down for the remaining crimes. While prison populations across the nation have skyrocketed over the last 40 years, the trend is especially astounding in Arizona, where the prison population has grown by a multiple of 12 during that time! This is three times higher than the national change of four times. Maricopa County, where the state's largest city, Phoenix, is located commits the most Arizonans to prison, and for the longest time. Rural areas of the state also send defendants to prison at a high rate, often for nonviolent offenses, preferring to lock people up in state prisons to improving local programs like probation and drug treatment. In Arizona, 70% of those committed to prison are committed for a nonviolent crime. 8 of the top 10 most common offenses for which people are sent to prison in Arizona are nonviolent. This includes a large, growing number of people sentenced to prison for drug possession (more on Arizona's drug crimes). There is no doubt that drug use is a problem in Arizona. Methamphetamine in particular has swept through the Southwest, destroying lives in its wake. Fentanyl and other opiates also form a nationwide crisis of overdose deaths. Still, Arizona (and America as a whole) can look to the failures of the past and present War on Drugs to realize that incarceration is not the solution. As other states and countries have moved to more treatment-based solutions to drug use, Arizona has been steadfast in sending people to prison. Tucson's proximity to the US-Mexico border, as well as its Interstate route, has made the city a hub of narcotics activity. State, local, and federal law enforcement agencies are active in the region, and Arizona and Federal law both yield harsh sentences in court. If you or a loved one has been arrested or charged with a crime in Pima County Superior Court or in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, you can expect harsh prosecution of suspected crimes. Having a dedicated, experienced, passionate defense attorney on your side is a must when charged with a crime in Arizona. Contact the Tucson Defenders today for a FREE CONSULTATION with a criminal defense attorney. 520-585-5757.
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November 2024
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