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