NCJ Number
122928
Date Published
1990
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This report analyzes the impact of changes in Delaware's drug trafficking law, implemented in July 1989, which lowers the thresholds for the amount of illegal drugs necessary for conviction, requires mandatory sentencing, and allows no reduction in the sentence for parole or good time credits.
Abstract
Increased law enforcement efforts and the new, lower thresholds have resulted in a 21 percent rise in drug trafficking arrests in 1989 over 1988 rates. Most law enforcement agencies in Delaware have increased their drug enforcement efforts and the State Police drug unit has added more personnel. The new law has increased the workload for the courts, prosecution, and Public Defender as well as the Medical Examiner Office that analyzes illicit drug exhibits. Although many of the cases would have been processed through the criminal justice system under different charges, it is unlikely that any would have received a Level V sentence. Because the Attorney General has proscribed plea bargaining under the new law, most of the cases will be going to trial, increasing the workload even further. By 1995, the impact of the new law will be felt in the prison system, where, by extrapolating current experience, it is estimated that over 700 new beds will be required. Future research will focus on case processing, the deterrent effect of the new law, and patterns of the illicit drug market. 1 table, 3 figures.