Pubdate: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia) Copyright: Illawarra Newspapers Contact: http://mercury.illnews.com.au/ Author: Shirley Nixon HELP NEEDED TO CUT CRIME SARAH Allibon, (Letters, Illawarra Mercury, March 10) makes the most valuable suggestion I have seen of recent days in public comments about ways to reduce the crime here in the Illawarra or anywhere else, for that matter. My own observations of women who find themselves in prison seldom lead me to the opinion that they are there because they are bad people. They represent, in the main, the most disadvantaged people in our society, almost always victims of mental, physical, sexual or other abuse. Statistics support this claim I am making. The best way to reduce crime is not to impose prison sentences in all cases, but to ensure that those who come before the courts are treated in ways which will help them leave behind the circumstances of poverty and disadvantage from which they come. Employment, proper education opportunities and affordable health care, readily available, would be a huge step forward for them and the whole of our society. Let the targets of the police and legal system be the truly heinous criminals, the drug barons and those who shield them. SHIRLEY NIXON, Thirroul. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry