In his April 23 Viewpoints letter, "Marshall's charmed life," Jack Bryant of Beaumont calls Thom Marshall a "bleeding heart liberal" for urging more humane conditions for inmates of Texas prisons.

Such thoughtless name-calling obscures Bryant's apparent ignorance of the fact that most prisoners will one day be returned to society, either as rehabilitated citizens or as confirmed enemies.

A prison warden years ago said, "Men are sent here as punishment, not for punishment."

Decent -- not sadistic -- living conditions and an opportunity for counseling, education and job training will make it more likely that these people will return to society as productive members of the community, rather than as predators to prey upon it.

Richard C. Allen, San Antonio

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