Final answer:
District Attorney Matthew Morris is aligned with the law-and-order approach that was prevalent during the war on drugs period. This approach favors strict enforcement and harsh penalties for drug-related crimes. It is characterized by policies that contribute to mass incarceration and racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
Step-by-step explanation:
District Attorney Matthew Morris, with his insistence on prosecuting drug possession or dealing and calling for increased penalties, most likely favors a law-and-order approach to drug policy. This perspective aligns with the war on drugs ideology that gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, advocating for strict enforcement of drug laws and harsh punishment as a means to maintain social order.
The war on drugs era saw policies such as the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, mandatory minimum sentences, and the institution of three strikes laws, which sought to deter crime through the threat of severe punishment. While initially popular, this approach led to mass incarceration, disproportionate impacts on minority communities, and a focus on punitive measures over rehabilitation or treatment. The economic and social costs of such policies, including prison overcrowding and racial disparities in arrests and sentencing, have led to shifts in public attitudes and calls for drug policy reform.
Thus, Morris's stance represents a traditional and punitive model of criminal justice that prioritizes strict law enforcement over alternate approaches like decriminalization or focus on social support and rehabilitation.