TREATMENT NOT PRISON

Judge Florence Foster did the right thing (Nation/World, Jan. 6). I
would rather my tax dollars be used to treat drug offenders in a drug
treatment program than have them wasted on feeding and housing these
individuals in prison. These drug offenders should also be ordered to
pay back the money for these programs either with cash or with
mandatory work time in the counties they live in. If they can afford
to pay for drugs, they can also afford to pay for their own treatment
in one way or another.

The prosecutors should have more compassion. Nothing is black and
white in life. Judges should be allowed to use common sense when
deciding on a case. Age, race and other circumstances should be a
factor in some cases. Foster was honest - that seems to be the
biggest mistake made here. I admire her for her decision. l bet if
any of these people who criticized her had a family member in court
in which she was the judge, they would change their tune in a
heartbeat.