GET TOUGH ON PRISONERS

In California, no matter how fast we build new prisons and add to
existingones, we will never have enough space until we change the system.

Most people bent on doing what they want to do, regardless of what various
laws allow, know that their chances of being given a seriously long
sentence and having to serve the whole sentence are extremely unlikely.

As long as judges are allowed to give concurrent sentences and "sob-sister"
sentences with time off for good behavior, we will never convince
anti-social people that we are serious.

All people should know for sure, before they ever appear before a judge,
that we expect all detainees to be on their best behavior for 24 hours
every day of their confinement.

They should be impressed with the knowledge that any type of behavior that
is less than their best will automatically get their sentence extended. And
not only no time off for good behavior, but no TVs in their rooms, no
conjugal visits with wives or girlfriends. They should know that they will
be kept too busy to read, play games or anything else that might be
enjoyable. They should be given work to help pay for their existence.

All who are prisoners as a result of a court decision should know that they
will be treated fairly but strictly on a bare-bones existence. They should
be treated as strictly as military basic trainees - no early outs, no
parole of any kind.

At first, this type of treatment will require more space, but after it
sinks in that this is the treatment all prisoners will get, we will have
fewer and fewer people detained in or by our judicial system.

Eventually we can cut down, not only on prison space, but we can spend more
improving our police departments and courts. Ultimately, with this type of
system in place, we can start on a gradual reduction on the number of law
enforcement people we need while paying those who we do need more money
with a better retirement system.

When there is absolute knowledge that if you do the crime, you will do the
time, we will start having fewer cases that even need to be tried. "Justice
delayed is justice denied." That includes justice for the average citizen
who has committed no crime, the citizen who has been wronged, the citizen
who has to pay taxes to support this costly system.

I spent over 20 years in the military and some time as a counselor in the
Fresno County Juvenile Hall. I don't claim to be an expert at anything, but
I have gained some knowledge.

William B. Pinkerton
Pico Rivera