Pubdate: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 Source: Gazette, The (CO) Copyright: 2002 The Gazette Contact: http://www.gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/876 Author: Steve Haggart NEW JAIL We'll Gladly Pay To Lock Up Nonviolent Offenders Is there a trend here? Two recent items in The Gazette suggested we can save big bucks by emptying our jails and prisons of nonviolent offenders ("Few in jail for drugs violent, study says," Sept. 20; "There are cheaper ways to relieve overcrowded jail," Letters, Sept. 20). Great idea. Let's release the arsonists, bookies, burglars, car thieves, check-kiters, counterfeiters, drug dealers, drunken drivers, embezzlers, flashers, forgers, identity stealers, perjurers, pimps, prostitutes, shoplifters, smugglers, tax cheats, vandals and other miscreants who have been charged with or convicted of so-called nonviolent crimes. Nonviolent crime isn't victimless crime. And because someone has broken the law without physically threatening or injuring their victim doesn't mean they haven't done them violence. It's no stretch to suggest that we're all victims of crime because crime -- and the fear of it -- coarsens and degrades our society, causes us to barricade, arm and insure ourselves against it, and requires us to support an expensive legal system, however imperfect it may be. Unfortunately, that cost is one we must pay. It may be cheaper to give criminals touchy-feely drug rehabilitation or make them wear ankle monitors so they can stay home and watch television, but I doubt the threat of these measures will provide much deterrence. I feel a lot safer with them right where they are -- behind bars. Steve Haggart Colorado Springs - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens