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
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin