Pubdate: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 Source: Oklahoman, The (OK) Copyright: 2003 The Oklahoma Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.oklahoman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318 Author: Judy Hughes REFORM PRISON SYSTEM To The Editor: The Legislature voted down any progressive reform for our prison system. It voted against early releases, decreased sentencing for drug offenses and electronic monitoring. It costs $35,000 annually to lock up a person for drug possession. We could instead have electronic monitoring to allow a prisoner to remain in his home and report for work daily, train in our present vocational rehab programs for gainful employment and work in supervised community service. Our present system is bankrupting the state and the cycle keeps repeating as the prisoner is returned to society unprepared for employment in an atmosphere where employers are reluctant to hire them, especially without job skills. The Legislature needs to come into the 21st century with new solutions to our prison problems by making changes in the laws. The punishment should fit the crime. The status quo serves no one. Furloughing Department of Corrections employees is a poor solution and does not address the root problem. Judy Hughes, City - --- MAP posted-by: Tom