Pubdate: Thu, 12 Oct 2006
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2006 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: David Shichor

STATE'S PRISON POLICIES NEED REEVALUATION

Re "An 'old' prison solution," Opinion, Oct. 7

I agree with much of Jonathan Turley's position regarding the 
warehousing of elderly offenders in California prisons. Another major 
problem that adds to prison overcrowding and the high cost of 
corrections in California is related to prisoner reentry policies. 
After their release, most prisoners are under supervision in their 
respective communities. The supervision since the declared "war on 
drugs" has become increasingly strict without providing more 
resources to help to integrate offenders into the community. Many 
released offenders break some of the rules of supervision by using 
drugs and are sent back to prison.

Moving a small percentage of inmates to out-of-state prisons will not 
solve the problem. Our sentencing and releasing policies need 
alternative ways to deal with nonviolent offenders instead of keeping 
them incarcerated for long periods of time.

DAVID SHICHOR

Professor of Criminal

Justice Emeritus

Cal State San Bernardino
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman