justdontknow
01-12-2003, 03:20 PM
Inmates *work* for prison stay.
Regarding "Inmate Waiting For Release" from Tommy Green, an inmate in Oklahoma's correctional system: For a little while he sounded reasonable----he realized he must pay a debt to society, he missed his family, missed his sons first game of T-ball, etc. Then he went on to urge that since there is a budget crisis the state should *devise a plan where some inmates who are non-violent, first time offenders* could be released early under certain circumstances. He concluded by claiming that he is serving a 10 yr. sentance on his *first offense*.
I thought it was my duty to clear up some confusion. First of all, Green is not in prison on his *first* offense. Green has been working hard to earn his prison cell since the mid 80's. In fact, it was during that period that he first went to prison. Over the years he racked up a number of charges and convictions.
In my 17 years as prosecutor, it has been my experience that unless a crime is an act of violence or one of a grand nature, criminals have to actually work hard to finally get to go to prison. Nonviolent offenders typically get probation opportunities before they finally impress us---and the judge----that they are bound and determined to go to prison. I've long referred to these sorts as criminal *overachievers*.
I agree, we should help those who both need and want help. Oklahoma county does that with its drug and mental health courts and community sentencing.
Huge sums of public money have already been saved throught these programs. Yet, the public should be very careful when they hear about all the *poor, nonviolent* offenders stuck in prison. They need to ask: are these people truly in prison because they have done something nonviolent for the first time? Or are they one of those *overachievers*?
Just because someone is *nonviolent* does not mean they are not a threat to society. Some people simply refuse to be good citizens. They are determined to burglarize your home or sell drugs to your children or even drive drunk on the highways. They have worked hard for their prison bed. When a nonviolent fellow like Green works that hard to get where he is today, we should let him enjoy the fruits of his labor----prison. This country, this state, is a safer place for it.
Hmmmm...........
Regarding "Inmate Waiting For Release" from Tommy Green, an inmate in Oklahoma's correctional system: For a little while he sounded reasonable----he realized he must pay a debt to society, he missed his family, missed his sons first game of T-ball, etc. Then he went on to urge that since there is a budget crisis the state should *devise a plan where some inmates who are non-violent, first time offenders* could be released early under certain circumstances. He concluded by claiming that he is serving a 10 yr. sentance on his *first offense*.
I thought it was my duty to clear up some confusion. First of all, Green is not in prison on his *first* offense. Green has been working hard to earn his prison cell since the mid 80's. In fact, it was during that period that he first went to prison. Over the years he racked up a number of charges and convictions.
In my 17 years as prosecutor, it has been my experience that unless a crime is an act of violence or one of a grand nature, criminals have to actually work hard to finally get to go to prison. Nonviolent offenders typically get probation opportunities before they finally impress us---and the judge----that they are bound and determined to go to prison. I've long referred to these sorts as criminal *overachievers*.
I agree, we should help those who both need and want help. Oklahoma county does that with its drug and mental health courts and community sentencing.
Huge sums of public money have already been saved throught these programs. Yet, the public should be very careful when they hear about all the *poor, nonviolent* offenders stuck in prison. They need to ask: are these people truly in prison because they have done something nonviolent for the first time? Or are they one of those *overachievers*?
Just because someone is *nonviolent* does not mean they are not a threat to society. Some people simply refuse to be good citizens. They are determined to burglarize your home or sell drugs to your children or even drive drunk on the highways. They have worked hard for their prison bed. When a nonviolent fellow like Green works that hard to get where he is today, we should let him enjoy the fruits of his labor----prison. This country, this state, is a safer place for it.
Hmmmm...........