Crime, Punishment

The perception that I got from Alan Abrahamson’s article on Vernon Lamarr Clark (“Bank Robbery Is a Desperate Cry for Help,” Nov. 17) is that if an ex-con (or anyone else for that matter) turns to crime and alcoholism and “can’t do” a minimum-wage job, then we should all feel sorry for him or point our fingers at the cruel “system” that is responsible for his woes.

The (real) sad truth is that a jail is an institution which guarantees a person’s food, shelter, clothing and civil rights with little or no responsibility required from those incarcerated.

Perhaps when society as a whole is fed up with criminals lying around all day (watching TV, hanging out with the fellas, thinking of ways to perfect their crimes, etc.), and starts pressuring our legislators for jail/prison reform, including mandatory work, counseling, rehabilitation skills and indoctrination into the effects of crime on victims, perhaps money could be diverted from warehousing criminals/recidivists to helping those homeless who are trying to help themselves.

There are many decent, hard-working people out there working two or three minimum-wage jobs to stay afloat. There are also many who will make every effort to make a good impression when given a chance to work and will be on time, ready to work, when needed.

Yes, Vernon Clark needs to go to jail for a long time, but if the correction system had been serving the needs of the honest citizens of this state, Clark might have thought about taking some of those minimum-wage jobs and getting treatment for alcoholism, instead of terrorizing the bank teller who is working and has not given up.

Economic times are tough, with much uncertainty ahead for many, and crime, alcoholism and drug abuse cannot be the answer.

DAVE CHEWIWLE, Oceanside