State drug prisoners rose from 11,500 in 1981 to 90,000 in 1989, with several hundred thousand more imprisoned for weeks or months in municipal jails. African Americans make up about 40 percent of all drug offenders, compared to less than a quarter a decade ago. A study of those imprisoned found that most were street-level dealers or minor participants in much larger enterprises. With mandatory minimums, drug offenders are forcing the early release of more dangerous, violent offenders not subject to mandatory drug sentence minimums. Despite these increasingly harsh sanctions, drugs were as available in 1992 as a decade before.
Cocaine is cheaper on an inflation-adjusted basis than ever, and only marijuana is more expensive.
Heroin is making a major comeback. With billions spent for enforcement, prisons averaging 150 percent of capacity, judges and police diverted from pursuing violent offenders as they focus on drug offenders, there is hope that a more sensible policy will emerge.