Prison Sites in Los Angeles
The California correctional system is in desperate need of additional prison facilities in order to ease the overcrowding and prevent the early release of convicted criminals who are paroled to make room for someone else.
Given this need, I suggest that our community as a whole will benefit by locating a prison facility in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
In addition to punishing, and, hopefully, reforming criminals, I feel that prisons can serve another very important function. By locating a prison in the midst of our city, preferably visible from a freeway, I believe its presence alone will help to deter potential criminals and serve as an ominous reminder of what is in store for those who break the law.
I would venture to guess that many first-time criminals have never seen the sobering vision of a maximum security prison. By making such a facility visible to all, I believe many people considering committing a crime will think twice.
GREGREY J. HARRIS
Los Angeles
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