Early Intervention Is the Key

“Big Evil’s Ride to Death Row” (by Michael Krikorian, Nov. 29) confirms my belief that gang members develop an addiction to the streets and the rush they experience from engaging in horrific crimes. What it suggests is that communities should get together and intervene with children when they are 8, 9 and 10 years old, serving time in juvenile detention centers.

Cleamon Johnson is right when he compares his life on the streets to a war, because that’s what it is and what it has been for many years. Society thinks that if we incarcerate these individuals repeatedly, they will learn right from wrong, but nowhere along the line are they given any emotional or psychological support so they can analyze what they’ve done and why they’ve done it.

Cathy Sobul

Los Angeles