Prison Not Answer for Some Inmates
* Re “Perilous Parole Policy,” July 19 editorial:
The desire of California to lock away offenders and forget about them will ultimately come back to haunt us.
We have the largest prison population in the country. Despite the average citizen’s belief, prisoners experience punitive and spartan conditions, and we are creating an atmosphere of hostility, vengeance and hatred.
Our money should be spent on keeping repeat violent offenders incarcerated, but also on supporting facilities like the House of Sarah in Costa Mesa to assist nonviolent offenders to transition to society.
Research has shown that recidivism is rampant because we do not have community and citizen support to aid those who want to change their lives. It also shows that money is far better invested in after-care programs than lockups.
VALERIE JONES
Lake Forest
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