OVERCROWDING

There has been much talk about the overcrowding in our jails and prisons.

Our government has ordered many prisoners released early, a lot of these
not only being thieves but hardcore criminals as well.

My son is in prison. His crime? His little sister was run off the road and
killed by an old man not supposed to be driving, who did not even spend the
night in jail. My son tried to drown his sorrow in drugs and alcohol. I'm
not making excuses for him; he was wrong, too. I could not find a way to
fill the hole in his heart.

It was something he would have to come to terms with and he did, in the
hardest way possible, prison. He got caught with a couple of pills and has
spent more than two years locked away in prison. He has been an ideal
prisoner as he is a good person to begin with.

He had done everything they have asked him to do, the crime bill program,
the after care meetings. My problem is this, I write the parole board
often, each time requesting a reply and I never receive one. Do we tax
payers not pay their salaries? And how is it violent criminals can be
released before non-violent people? Is it simply all a lie when we tell our
children to do their best and keep good attitudes? My son is a big strong
strapping boy, would he have come out better "beating" his way out? I don't
understand this parole board or how they make their decisions, and I think
it just might be time for someone above them to take a look.

Susan Hanna, Gadsden