NO POINT IN PUTTING KERVORKIAN IN JAIL

Dear Editor:

Your view that Dr. Kervorkian received "an appropriate punishment",
shows a belief that State's Attorney Offices have unlimited resources
and that prisons are full of empty beds. Neither could be further
from the truth. With one-half of prison beds occupied with
non-violent drug users, a revolving door has been installed at all
prisons.

Only months ago, a second-degree murderer from Missouri was released
six years early. He then killed in St. Louis, stealing a car, only to
kill again in Springfield to steal another car. There are
consequences to our misuse of a precious and finite resource - prison
beds. Violent and sick people are released into our communities;
recidivism is high. A study by the Auditor General of Minnesota shows
rapists have a 30% repeat rate.

Who will be released early to ply our parks when the Doctor takes
their bed for the next 10 or 25 years? Unlike a murderer, Dr.
Kervorkian obeyed his "victims'" plea. He poses no threat to our
communities. His imprisonment wastes tax dollars and makes
communities in less safe. There must be limits on government
intrusions in the personal decisions of people's private lives.

Mark Piersall
Springfield