March 18, 2017
“Crime and Punishment”
Our criminal justice system must be reformed. I once heard someone make the following statement (or something to the effect): “There are two reasons to put people in prison. There are those who we fear and those who we wish to punish.” Of course, many prisoners fit both categories, but there is a difference. The populations of our prisons should be divided in just this way.
Who do we fear? Violence cannot be tolerated in a civilized society (which we claim to be), so those who physically, and, to some extent, mentally injure others, whether during the commission of some crime or not, should be housed among those of a similar inclination. Perhaps in some cases their violence natures may be changed (that's for psychiatrists to determine), but these criminals must not be allowed to spread their violent mentality among those who aren't. I have long believed that these inmates should be kept in single cells with access to “exercise periods” without physical contact with others. It might require building new facilities for violent inmates. If it protects guards and other inmates, then it's the right thing to do. They would still have both visual and conversational contact with their fellow inmates, but no contact would be allowed. By doing this, injuries in these prisons would be non-existent. Whatever counseling and medication that would be deemed appropriate could be handles in a safe and humane manner. Perhaps it's also time to think about life sentences for these offenders, if they aren't already sentenced to life. The alternative, to me, is for these types of people to be exiled to a “colony” which could be created in a remote area or an island, where they could have more freedom and have a more normal chance to live out their days. I'm open to suggestions. I also believe that any prisoner who receives a life sentence should be given the option of “death” at any time. I am opposed to the death penalty for the simple reason that our experience during the past years has shown us that not everyone sentenced to death is actually guilty. Our courts and juries do their best, but should we really be putting people to death?
Who do we want to punish? There are plenty of non-violent offenders who deserve what they get. Robbery, drug dealing, kidnapping, white-collar crime (remember Bernie Madoff, not to mention the thousands of corporate CEO's who deserve to be held liable for the damage that their companies have created), and the many other crimes for which we incarcerate individuals are reasons to punish, but we don't normally fear for our safety, only our finances. I believe that more judges should utilize more appropriate sentences, ones which help to pay the victims rather than just cost the taxpayers to provide room and board and medical care to someone for years. We now have the capability to electronically monitor criminals, thus making it possible to confine them without the expense of a prison cell. Let their families pay their expenses. Let them go to work and reimburse their victims and society in a financial manner. While I know that this doesn't fit every individual, it should be used more often
The trend has been and appears to be returning to using “private” prison facilities. I oppose this because, in the long run, it will be more expensive and require more prison inmates and for longer sentences so that the private prisons can show a profit. They won't stay open if we don't keep them at a capacity which allows them to so. I see that as ripe for corruption and fraud.
While the U.S. has approximately 5% of the world's population, we have nearly 25% of the world's prison population. Of course, law enforcement and court systems in our part of the world are more efficient and better enforced, but it also speaks to a larger problem, drugs. Before the current version of the “war on drugs” (1980, more or less), about 150 people per 100,000 population were in prison. Two years ago that figure was about 750 per 100,000. That's between 5 and 10 TIMES MORE than other “modern countries.” More than half of all inmates in this country are there on drug-related convictions. They're not all “dealers;” as much as 80% of those are possession charges, not the big boys! The war on drugs has failed; just ask any state with an “opioid epidemic” such as Vermont or New Hampshire or West Virginia!
Prison is the right place for drug dealers, but users who need and want help should be able to get it. Time in treatment facilities would be cheaper than prison. Some states spend over $10,000 a year per inmate. Doesn't it make sense to at least try to help medically before wasting that money on prison? If a five-year sentence costs us $50,000, why not spend $25,000 on a long-term treatment program to at least try to end a person's addiction?
How do we really fight the drug problem? When it comes to heroin or cocaine or other drugs which originate outside of the U.S. and are imported, we should go to the source and stop production, whatever it takes. A more proactive approach, which should be with the cooperation of whatever country it involves, should involve the use of our military, whether special forces or regular forces. Destroying production facilities, over and over again if necessary, along with either arresting/prosecuting the bosses and workers or, if necessary, eliminating them altogether is the only way to prevent the production before the drugs are in the pipeline. In so far as the domestic production of drugs, such as meth and artificial hallucinogenics, law enforcement must continue to seek out and destroy those production facilities as well, using whatever means necessary. Marijuana, however, is another story.
“Pot” may or may not be worse than alcohol, but it is here and will never be eliminated. It has medicinal value, whether the “powers that be” in Washington want to believe it or not. Marijuana should be legalized with the same restrictions as alcohol and met with the same punishments for violations. Is it harmful? Absolutely, if abused in the same way that alcohol can be abused. It should be regulated, monitored by the Agriculture Department for purity, and regulated by A.T.F., just as cigarettes are now. The tax revenue alone would be a boost to the health industry if that tax money were directed to a national health insurance program, just as the alcohol tax should be.
With drug offenders out of the prison system, we could concentrate on protecting people from those who are violent by isolating them where they can do no more harm and punishing those who have preyed on honest citizens. Our system is broken, but it can be fixed. Citizens must force Congress to listen and do what makes sense!
Robert Butler
P.O. Box 193
Marmaduke, AR 72443
