Federal Drug Offender Sentencing Trends (1 CE)
Number of Credits: 1
This course is for: Clinical psychologists and Counselors
Course By: Michael Parent, PhD
Content By: Testa, A. & Lee, J. G. (2020). Trends in sentencing of federal drug offenders: Findings from U.S. district courts 2002-2017. Journal of Drug Issues, 51(1), 84-108. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042620959071
Course Description: Drug policy in the United States has changed substantially over time arguably due to racial and ethnic biases. Drug sentencing in the federal system has generally demonstrated that both legal and extralegal factors are important in determining sentence severity. The study examines trends in criminal sentencing for drug offenses in federal district courts from 2002 to 2017, whether punishment severity for opioid or methamphetamines cases has differed over time relative to other types of drugs, and whether trends in drug sentencing vary depending on race or ethnicity. Future research is needed to further understand how changes to federal drug laws and how a shifting cultural landscape influence the treatment of drug offenders by the criminal justice system.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the purpose of the study and the methods related to the trends in sentencing of federal drug offenders as examined in the article
- Analyze the data by exploring the statistical tests used in conjunction with the discussed findings
- Integrate the study limitations with the identified areas of future research
Course Outline:
- Read and understand Trends in Sentencing of Federal Drug Offenders: Findings From U.S. District Courts 2002-2017
- Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
- Consider the factors related to criminal sentencing coupled with the statistical findings from the accompanying article
- Work through the post-test questions; keep in mind that answer selections should be derived from the respective article
- Return to the article for clarification regarding sentencing across different drug types, or for any missed questions
Approvals:
Board Approvals | American Psychological Association (APA), NBCC, Florida Board - Social Work, MFT, Counseling, and Psychology, NYSED - Social Work, MFT and Counseling Only, American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders |
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CE Format | Online, Text-Based |