Pubdate: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 Source: Columbian, The (WA) Copyright: 2011 The Columbian Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.columbian.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92 Author: Sandra Gadberry REFORM EXCESSIVE SENTENCING TERMS The number of incarcerated people in Washington state has quadrupled in the past 20 years. Our present prison population is more than 18,000. Crime must be punished but the time should fit the crime, not as our mandatory minimum sentences demand. The time incarcerated should be utilized as a time for treatment, education, and job training to aid in the reduction of recidivism and the constant recycling in and out of prison. Highly unjust and very expensive, we send people to prison for life for comparatively minor offenses under our three-strikes law. Many have had no chance for rehabilitation in the past since educational and vocational programs were nonexistent. It is unfair and if that doesn't bother you, consider the unnecessary burden to the taxpayer. When laws that we've created prevent us from doing the right thing, it's time to fix those laws. We felt warm and safe with our three-strikes law but our intent of taking the "worst of the worst" off the streets has expanded into a mass incarceration that includes nonviolent people, drug addicts, the mentally ill. We are no safer. We are a lot poorer. Please contact your state legislators to support SB 5236, (Providing a minimum term sentence for certain persistent offenders) for much-needed reform. Sandra Gadberry Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake