HELP NEEDED TO CUT CRIME

SARAH Allibon, (Letters, Illawarra Mercury, March 10) makes the most
valuable suggestion I have seen of recent days in public comments
about ways to reduce the crime here in the Illawarra or anywhere else,
for that matter.

My own observations of women who find themselves in prison seldom lead
me to the opinion that they are there because they are bad people.

They represent, in the main, the most disadvantaged people in our
society, almost always victims of mental, physical, sexual or other
abuse.

Statistics support this claim I am making. The best way to reduce
crime is not to impose prison sentences in all cases, but to ensure
that those who come before the courts are treated in ways which will
help them leave behind the circumstances of poverty and disadvantage
from which they come.

Employment, proper education opportunities and affordable health care,
readily available, would be a huge step forward for them and the whole
of our society.

Let the targets of the police and legal system be the truly heinous
criminals, the drug barons and those who shield them.

SHIRLEY NIXON,
Thirroul.