Rehab or Punishment: What to Do About Drug Crimes: ISBN 978-1-68282-739-0 / eBook: 978-1-68282-740-6
Booklist, January 1, 2020

According to a 2018 Sentencing Project report, the number of people incarcerated for drug crimes has increased from 40,900 in 1980 to 450,345 in 2016. This informative book considers whether punishment or rehabilitation is a better solution for nonviolent drug offenders. A USA Today article quotes Richard J. Pocker, former U.S. attorney for Nevada, declaring, "They need treatment, not handcuffs." This resource offers an overview of who drug offenders are and what offenses they commit, using individuals' real stories as examples. Reforms that have been implemented to change minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, like the First Step Act of 2018, are mentioned. The text discusses prison addiction treatment programs and highlights the alternate sentencing programs that are available, such as Virginia's Wise Works, Seattle's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), and drug courts. Clear explanations, photos, source notes, an organization list, further research options, index, sidebars with quotes, and anecdotes make this a useful resource.

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