CHARLES EDWARD GARRETT

Our Absurd System

Re: "Fugitive since 1970 found, officials say - Dallas man fled court
after heroin conviction," Oct. 14.

How totally absurd! In 1970, Charles Edward Garrett was sentenced to
life in prison for possessing heroin; not dealing, but just having 23
capulets of this controlled substance on his person.

Absurdity No. 1: Take people with a drug problem and spend tax dollars
putting them through the "University of Crime" we call our prison
system. Our prisons are overflowing because of the war on drugs. We
have telethons and charity golf tournaments and ballroom dances and
auctions for every disease imaginable except, of course, diseases
associated with drug addiction. For drugs, we declare war and then
lock up the afflicted. I hope we never declare a war on cedar pollen
allergies!

Absurdity No. 2: Lock them up for life. Fortunately, our state penal
code has become a little less "absurd" since 1970, when possession of
a small amount of marijuana (that would today be treated as a
misdemeanor) would result in a life sentence. Lots of people were
sentenced to life in prison because of small amounts of marijuana or
heroin in the early '70s. This continues in the federal system even
today.

Mr. Garrett, however, did not go to prison to serve his life sentence:
he walked out of the courtroom and assumed a new, law-abiding
identity. For 28 years, he worked, paid taxes, and began raising a
family. He did on his own what we would not have done for him if we
had sent him to prison: He learned how to be a law-abiding citizen.

On Oct. 12, Dallas Sheriff's Department officials arrested Mr. Garrett
at his job as a maintenance technician at the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center and now our tax dollars are finally going
to be spent the way we intended: He is going to be sent to prison to
start serving his life sentence, at the age of 56.

Am I the only one who thinks this is stupid?

His story graces the same pages that include a mother's failure to
come to the aid of her murdered child, a police officer arrested for
rape, the death of a 3-year-old child who was the victim of physical
abuse, and an arrest warrant for a man alleged to have broken into
over 300 storage facilities in Tarrant County. If these people are
ultimately convicted, are we really serving any purpose by sending Mr.
Garrett to prison to live with them?

COYT RANDAL JOHNSTON
900 Jackson St.
Dallas, Tx 75202
214-741-6250
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Jailing The Rehabilitated!

As a member of society, I vote to release Charles Edward Garrett. He
has served his time. There is absolutely no justice in him being imprisoned.

If jail time is supposed to rehabilitate, then Mr. Garrett should be
the poster person for the success of the theory; after all, just the
fear of jail time rehabilitated him.

I am a member of Parents of Murdered Children and a worker in the
victims rights amendment movement so I am well versed in our joke of a
criminal justice system - where we always put the victim on trial. I
feel Mr. Garrett has proven to everyone he is worthy of our trust.

Everyday the criminal justice system releases rapists, murderers,
robbers and child molesters into society where they prove they are not
rehabilitated by repeating their crimes. Now the system has come full
term, taking a rehabilitated citizen and putting him behind bars. Why?
So some bailiff or judge or prosecutor somewhere can have their hurt
feelings soothed?

What Mr. Garrett did only hurt himself. He has certainly paid society
back tenfold in my book. I hope everyone will get behind this man and
stop this injustice from taking place.

MARY ANN COLLINS, Dallas
---------------------------

The High Cost Of Jail

The holding of Charles Garrett without bail is the most absurd waste
of a life and of the taxpayers' money I have witnessed.

The man has apparently become a responsible, working father. Why spend
taxpayer money to jail a productive citizen? Let's spend our tax
dollars to jail violent criminals. If someone still feels that he
should be punished, have Mr. Garrett participate in community service.

Don't let him rot in a jail cell. We would be needlessly punishing not
only Mr. Garrett - but also his wife and children, and the taxpayers.

KATHY E. SAUL, Lancaster
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Prohibitionist Fanatics

Re: "Man recalls 28 years on the run," Oct. 16.

This is ridiculous. Prohibitionist fanatics know no
shame.

RICHARD MARCHESE, Fairfield, N.J.
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He Deserves A Pardon

It made me sick to read about what happened to Charles Edward
Garrett.

After 28 years of working hard to take care of his family he is once
again behind bars.

He deserves a pardon.

I say to Gov. George W. Bush, pardon this man. Get off your hard-line
horse and pardon this man now!

WARREN REBER
6843 Town North Dr.
Dallas, Tx. 75231
214-503-7511

Checked-by: Patrick Henry