60% OF PRISONERS ARE FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS

The U. S. Attorney for Guam believes that mandatory minimum sentences
are "fair" and take "habitual lawbreakers off the streets." Neither is
the case.

There is nothing fair about a sentence that is imposed for purported
crimes that are not charged and over 60 percent of all federal inmates
are first-time, non-violent drug offenders. Their families suffer and
their children follow them into crime.

Maybe the problem is we never spent enough time on rehabilitation.
This is the only country in the civilized world taking the stance that
we do for ridiculously long prison sentences that perpetuate an
underclass -- 96 percent of all inmates are eventually released with a
bus ticket and a few dollars.

Would you want to intellectualize this argument with one of these
people after release?

Kenny Linn, J.D., L.L.M.

FedCure

Dunedin, Fla.