Regarding Barry Saunders' May 20 column "The price of prison, hilarious": State Rep. Ronnie Sutton provided the legislature with a positive, progressive idea. Prison is not the answer for drug-addicted individuals who make up the highest percentage of inmates. Prevention or education is less expensive emotionally and financially than prison. Spending thousands of dollars to keep someone incarcerated is not the answer. The legislators laughed at Sutton's proposal, but Saunders was right -- the joke is on us if we continue to pay for close-minded legislators.

Rick Barney

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