Pubdate: Sun, 08 Sep 2002
Source: Montgomery Advertiser (AL)
Copyright: 2002sThe Advertiser Co.
Contact:  http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1088
Author: D. Miller

BUILDING PRISONS NOT ANSWER

I have watched over the years the political arena in the state of Alabama 
in regard to the judicial system and the Department of Corrections. It is 
horrifying to watch the drama that is played about life and death.

We are the poorest state in the United States and yet we offer nothing but 
rhetoric whenever there are positive decisions to be made about the 
well-being of life - education and health care included.

We do not need to build more prisons. This is only a short-term solution to 
a consistent problem that has not ended and will not end until we have 
alternative programs that address social problems that we have created.

Eighty-nine percent of Alabama inmates are incarcerated because of 
drug-related crimes. We are in need of drug treatment programs that not 
only address the drug addiction, but the problems that the individual has 
that resulted in crime and addiction - poverty, unemployment, lack of 
education, domestic abuse, lack of decent housing, nutrition and health care.

If we invest in long-term programs that are preventive we would produce 
more healthy, productive citizens. The next step is to clean up the old 
laws that have been in existence before the Civil War. The laws are 
outdated and do not reflect today's citizens or government. We can no 
longer become a state of containment, but one of progress and concern for all.

D. Miller Fairfield
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom