How Does the War on Drugs Continue to Shape the Prison Crisis?
What happens when an entire justice system is built on punishing addiction instead of treating it? In his memoir and prison reform book, author Hassan Nemazee grapples with challenges like these. Persia, Politics & Prison, written by Nemazee during incarceration, illuminates the lasting impact of harsh policies, many of which stemmed from the War on Drugs. While the United States holds only about 4% of the world’s population, it accounts for nearly 20% of its incarcerated individuals. Much of this stems from decades-old policies that didn’t just tackle drug use—they redefined incarceration as we know it.
Mass incarceration wasn’t always the norm. The War on Drugs, officially declared in the 1970s, drastically reshaped sentencing laws. Mandatory minimums and "three-strikes" policies put thousands behind bars for nonviolent offenses. Federal and state-level lawmakers introduced these measures to appear “tough on crime,” but this crackdown came at a cost. Overcrowded cells and understaffed…