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.