Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jan 2001
Source: Times Record News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 The E.W. Scripps Co.
Contact:  1301 Lamar, Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Fax: (940)767-1741
Feedback: http://www.trnonline.com/opinions2/letters/form.shtml
Website: http://www.trnonline.com/
Author: John Drullinger, Jr.

REHABILITATION NOT FOUND BEHIND TEXAS PRISON BARS

I have written several letters to editor of TRN, and would like to thank 
both. The letters have been facts and the truth about the (losing) war on 
drugs.

I grew up in a two-parent home, and went to church, made good grades in 
school until introduced to drugs. Then everything changed, trouble and 
incarceration followed.

I've never been offered any type of rehab, and in case you missed the 6 and 
10 news on Dec. 8, this time was no exception. I got 10 years TDCJ. I have 
three children and they are also victims. In 1999, nearly 1.5 million 
children had at least one parent in state or federal prison. Texas has 
upwards of 220,000 people, that's up nearly 500 percent in a quarter of a 
century. Between 1985 and 1996, total expenditures on state prison 
activities more than doubled, from under 13 billion to over 27 billion.

When will enough be enough? We need prisons that truly correct and 
rehabilitate or more rehab programs. Or how about faith-based non-profit 
prisons?

John Drullinger Jr.,
Wichita Falls
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