State’s prison policies need reevaluation

Re “An ‘old’ prison solution,” Opinion, Oct. 7

I agree with much of Jonathan Turley’s position regarding the warehousing of elderly offenders in California prisons. Another major problem that adds to prison overcrowding and the high cost of corrections in California is related to prisoner reentry policies. After their release, most prisoners are under supervision in their respective communities. The supervision since the declared “war on drugs” has become increasingly strict without providing more resources to help to integrate offenders into the community. Many released offenders break some of the rules of supervision by using drugs and are sent back to prison.

Moving a small percentage of inmates to out-of-state prisons will not solve the problem. Our sentencing and releasing policies need alternative ways to deal with nonviolent offenders instead of keeping them incarcerated for long periods of time.

DAVID SHICHOR

Professor of Criminal

Justice Emeritus

Cal State San Bernardino