ADDICTED TO INCARCERATION

The high rate of incarceration is an expensive situation. In this day
of strained budgets, perhaps part of our crisis is caused by the
tough-on-crime mentality. I wonder how many realize that we
incarcerate more than one out of every 100 of our citizens in this
country. Many are locked up for non-violent crimes. We do seem to have
an addiction to incarceration for all our social ills. To deny someone
freedom because they have an addiction or to lock up a person who
really needs intensive mental health care doesn't really represent the
ideals of America.

When will the public recognize the connection between the government
budget challenges and the extremely high cost of our extremely
punitive mode of criminal justice?

Lowana Krewson

stanwood, Wa