Pubdate: Thu, 08 Dec 2005
Source: Wausau Daily Herald (WI)
Copyright: 2005 Wausau Daily Herald
Contact: 
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/contactus/readerservices/letter-to-editor.shtml
Website: http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1321
Author: Mary Beth and James Maas
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

JAILING PEOPLE AT NO. 1 RATE ISN'T A SOLUTION TO CRIME

EDITOR: The Marathon County jail is overcrowded -- again? Marathon 
County is far from a crime-ridden area. Something isn't right.

In 2004, the United States incarcerated 2.2 million people in its 
prisons and jails. Among industrialized nations, the United States 
incarcerates the largest percentage of its population. We're No. 1!

In 2005, our Unitarian Universalist Association adopted a sweeping 
new policy statement on criminal justice and prison reform. The 
statement issued a broad critique of the criminal justice system and 
called for numerous reforms, including ending mandatory minimum 
sentencing and focusing on prevention rather than punishment. The 
full text is online at www.uua.org/csw.

UUs are appalled by the gross injustices in our current criminal 
justice system. We urge the reform of the criminal justice and 
correctional systems to effect justice for both victims and 
violators. We act in the spirit that we are indeed our sisters' and 
brothers' keepers, but keeping them in jail should be a last resort.

A first step would be to end the so-called "war on drugs," which 
destroys lives and squanders valuable resources incarcerating people 
who haven't hurt anyone. Police instead could focus on violent crimes.

Let's make good on our American promise to be both compassionate and 
just to all in our society. Let's live the core values of our country 
and extend our values to the benefit of others and our community.

Mary Beth and James Maas 
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman