Illegal Drugs: Economic Impact, Societal Costs, Policy Responses
Dirksen Senate Office Building 106
June 19, 2008
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) convened a hearing of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) to examine the economic consequences of the United States’ drug policy. The hearing entitled, “Illegal Drugs: Economic Impact, Societal Costs, Policy Responses” was held Thursday, June 19 at 10am in Room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The panel discussed the illegal drug economy in the United States, assessed the costs of U.S. policy responses to combating drug use, and addressed the need for policy reforms. Last year, Senator Webb and the JEC examined the economic implications of the steep increase in the U.S. prison population.
Opening Statements:
Witness Statements:
- Anne Swern, First Assistant District Attorney, Kings County, Brooklyn, NY (PDF - 155.4 KBs)
- Norma Fernandes, Community Coordinator, Kings County District Attorney (PDF - 17.8 KBs)
- Peter Reuter, Dept. of Criminology, University of Maryland (PDF - 144.6 KBs)
- John Walsh, Senior Associate, Washington Office on Latin America (PDF - 151.4 KBs)
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