Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jan 2001
Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2001 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Contact:  P.O. Box 3110 Honolulu, HI 96802
Fax: (808) 525-8037
Website: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/
Author: Barbara Stokes

PRISONERS IGNORED DURING HOLIDAY SEASON

It was heart-warming to note our efforts to care for one another during the 
holiday season. The homeless, sick, needy, elderly were pretty much 
attended to, and this was gratifying. Even the children of parents in 
prison received gifts, and much thanks go to all individuals and 
organizations that gave of their time, energies and resources publicly and 
anonymously to make this happen.

But there's one forgotten segment of our population: those incarcerated 
individuals themselves. They were ignored at holiday time because most 
often the attitude is that "they deserve to be there."

There is a difference between "doing something bad" and "making a mistake." 
An extremely high percentage of our jail inmates are there for "making a 
mistake" (i.e., drug use). In most cases, drug users are individuals 
seeking a sense of well-being, ways out of pain and problems, something 
better. They need someone to show them the way, rather than to lock them up.

Some churches and musical groups did go in to entertain at one facility, 
which was commendable, but even they didn't realize there were still other 
prisoners who could not be reached because they were locked up in the small 
confines of the "high facility," due to alleged drug use within the prison.

Those incarcerated for drugs need something different than to be thrown 
into prison and ignored.

Barbara Stokes
Hale`iwa
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