A June 11 letter reproved our prisons for not being tough enough. The author probably has had no association with a prison or with anyone who has. Believe me, until you’ve filled those shoes, you do not know.
Jails and prisons are bad places — no one wants to go there. The incarcerated are protected by the U.S. Constitution and U.S. law that states they should not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, but the abuses that occur are intentional. The incarcerated are often viewed as less than human by many self-righteous. Violence, sexual abuse, humiliation and degradation are only a few of the hazards prevalent in these unpleasant places. Should anyone think differently, they are badly misinformed.
It strikes me that if we don’t feel any responsibility to provide help to those imprisoned, it would be wise to do so. Many will return to their communities one day and we do not need demoralized, desperate, defiant people converging. If we cannot find compassion for them, we should at least help assure that they can return to society successfully.
Cheryl Onstad
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