Pubdate: Fri, 26 Nov 2004 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Copyright: 2004 Lexington Herald-Leader Contact: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240 Author: Barret Smith Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n1657.a01.html TOO MANY INMATES? The term "criminal justice" sounds strange to me; but unfortunately, it's accurate. Criminals usually do receive justice, but their victims don't. It seems sure that University of Kentucky law professor Robert Lawson, who wrote Kentucky's penal code, has not lost a loved one to someone who has been in our penal system for a so-called minor crime, such as a drug offense. Drug offenders are given many chances to rehabilitate themselves. The court system gives the drug offender every possible break. Criminals almost always return to the same old lifestyle and end up hurting other individuals and not themselves. Prisons overcrowded? Let the criminals out on "work release" to build the prisons. That would probably be more punishment than they normally receive. Too expensive? Eliminate their workout equipment, TVs and other luxuries. The rights of the criminal -- that's ludicrous. Their rights should be taken away the minute they are incarcerated. Someone is getting it all wrong, as the editorial suggests. Victims don't get any justice at all. Barret Smith Mount Sterling - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin