Jail Video Cameras

* Re “A Camera Shadows a Litigious Inmate,” May 6:

Andrew Lesky has filed more than 20 complaints and lawsuits alleging mistreatment by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Some legal scholars, such as Thomas G. Blomberg, professor of criminology at Florida State University, object to the jail deputies following Lesky with a video camera as a means of refuting what they contend are false accusations. Blomberg feels that this can be viewed as an extreme invasion of privacy and be interpreted as “cruel or unusual punishment.”

Law-abiding citizens, under the Constitution, are entitled to privacy. But people whose behavior has led to violations of the law leading to incarceration require total surveillance.

Inmates can heap abuse on each other, leading to an oppressive atmosphere including fear, hate and exploitation.

Under such conditions the deputies must necessarily intervene, using force in some instances.

Video surveillance should be extended, as the budget permits, as it can help solve a variety of inmate control problems.

JACK N. CARL

Anaheim Hills