PRISON AS A CRIME SCHOOL

Regarding "Prison Doesn't Pay, Report Finds" (Nation/World, June 8):

As a recent resident of the Pinellas County jail, I found it
enlightening that someone is brave enough to address an issue that is
easily viewed as "out of sight, so out of mind." However, you will
find that a large percentage of incarcerates are drug users. I say
users, not sellers. Our criminal justice system has forgotten that
drug addiction is a very powerful addiction. Consider loved ones who
will not quit smoking, even though it is killing them.

Even using the argument that the courts recommend treatment multiple
times only to see failure, is the correct answer to place these
addicts - not criminals - into a prison with criminals who
premeditate their often violent crimes?

Placing drug users into prison places them in an environment that
teaches them how to become criminals, as they then have an
overwhelming supply of professors more than happy to teach them the
finer art of criminal behavior. Will our society continue to stop
helping addicts conquer their illness and keep sending them to
prisons, where they will be "out of sight and out of mind"?

RANDOLPH HARMON

Tampa