James A. Inciardi and Christine A. Saum

About the author: James A. Inciardi is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware, in Newark and is director of the university's Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies. Inciardi is also co-editor of The American Drug Scene. Christine A. Saum is a doctoral candidate and a research associate at the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies who coauthored Cocaine-Exposed Infants: Social, Legal, and Public Health Issues with Inciardi and Hilary Suratt.

Those who support the legalization of drugs argue that legalization would reduce drug-related crime. Research reveals, however, that legalization would likely increase rather than decrease violent crime. The argument that violence is the result of criminalizing the drug trade ignores the research that shows that drugs themselves make...