Drug offenses, offenders and police involvement
Drug offenses, offenders and police involvement
David and Joyce Djaelani Gordon, Contributors, Ciawi, West Java
Are the police part of the solution or part of the problem, or both?
Since the late 1980s, problems involving illicit drugs have increased throughout the entire population and across the nation with phenomenal momentum.
This increase has been so rapid that few have a realistic idea of exactly how many individuals are currently abusing or are addicted to drugs.
Estimates of drug users and abusers range from low to high. Marijuana, ecstasy, shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) and putaw (low-grade heroin) are now commonly found being tried, used and abused by children still at junior high school.
It is ironic that the general population hates drug dealers, but fears and often detests the police just as much. Why is this so?
Over and over again the staff at YaKita (a drug recovery center), have been asked by parents and loved ones to write a letter to the police stating that if the police release the young person (whether male or female), he or she would immediately enter a drug recovery program.
Release involves arriving at a deal; people (mostly parents & family members) must pay, in cash, usually between Rp 10 million and Rp 50 million, or more, to the police. The amount depends on the gravity of the offense, the wealth of the family or the notoriety/fame/position of the person to be released.
Once an individual has been arrested, a charge is threatened or the charge is written, then the family or loved one is notified, and the negotiation game begins.
Families are almost always helpless (and embarrassed) in the presence of the police because of the evidence found at the crime scene and the subsequent arrest.
The police are fully aware of this sense of helplessness, so the odds are stacked against the family; only the amount of money is in question.
The bulk of arrests mostly involve low profile crimes, the offenders mostly young drug users or addicts, and petty, small- time dealers.
These individuals are easy prey and targets for the police. They are easily spotted cruising around particular neighborhoods, hanging out in certain areas, or particular night and hot spots.
Fear, control and profit often top the list of priorities when a drug user is apprehended, rather than concern, assistance and welfare.
Because this kind of "lose-lose situation" has been permitted to develop between offenders and law enforcement officials, approaches for trustworthy help have greatly diminished, justice has been denied and rehabilitation has become impossible.
As a result, all of society suffers and is further exposed to the escalation of drug abuse, and drug-related issues surrounding drug abuse, such as rising levels of crime, brutality and violence, and an increasing incidence of hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.