Governor must give prisons his best shot

Re “State Prison Reform Hopes in Jeopardy,” March 7

Your article asks, “Can anyone fix the state’s dysfunctional prisons?” We had best hope that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gives it his best effort, because in terms of lives lost, taxes wasted and infrastructure degraded, we simply cannot afford for him to look the other way. Gray Davis had his energy crisis; Schwarzenegger gets the prison meltdown.

To reduce the prison population by increments, judges need greater discretion to divert nonviolent offenders to probation, drug treatment and job training. California should provide free voluntary drug treatment to all who seek it, reduce the top penalty for drug use to one year instead of three and release terminally ill prisoners so they may die at home. There are dozens of other small, attainable reforms that would free up funds to pay local cops to prevent crime. Add to that the value of neighbors prepared to work for a living, and you have a real plan for public safety.

GLENN BACKES

Director, Health Policy

Drug Policy Alliance, Sacramento