Thought for the Day

Statement

Prison Reform

Did you know that over one half of the inmates within our prison system are there for non-violent, non-victim, non-disruptive acts, (crimes). Many of these are serving sentences that are longer than victim related crimes, even murder.

There is no consistency or logic to our sentencing criteria. This "put them all in jail" mentality is great for the prison industry, but it is horrible for our State.

While I am a firm believer in judicial corrections, I am also aware that recidivism is at an all time high. So I wonder if incarceration is truly the fix all solution.

Many of our inmates are there because of a substance abuse or addiction problem. Incarceration will never cure addiction. It only creates an individual who over the long term will never be productive and will remain in the prison system. We must solve this problem.

Many of our counties have an effective drug court program. The one in Jackson County has been very successful. The program combines judicial oversight with rehabilitation efforts. In the long run this is more effective and less expensive than incarceration.

If our government is not willing to stem the tide of drugs crossing our border or control the amount of substance advertising (alcohol) aimed at our young people, or arrest drug dealers regardless of how much money there is to seize, then we can't continue to treat the victims of our carelessness as criminals.

Ron Williams

Source