NCJ Number
146730
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Pages: 76-95
Date Published
1994
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the dimensions of Spain's criminal policy with regard to drugs during the period 1982-1992.
Abstract
The period under review coincided with the coming to power of the Socialist Party and ended with a series of events which lent definitive support to Spain's incorporation into the international scenario. The author provides insight into the change from a position of opposing the Spanish "war on drugs" as a "war on internal dissidence," to the non-critical acceptance of repressive international trends and utilization of the war against drugs as a weapon against the "new enemies within" (immigrants, ethnic minorities, young dropouts), and as an excuse for eroding the basic freedoms. The article covers (1) a review of Spanish criminal policy from 1971 to 1982; (2) the 1982-1988 period; (3) the "Counter-reform" of 1988; (4) the legitimating discourse of the reform of 1988; (5) alternatives to drug dependent delinquents; and (6) penalization of consumption of drugs in public. Footnotes and references