SEEK MORE CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS

Re: Legislature Approves $66-Million To Expand State's Prison Capacity,
Aug. 14.

State Sen. Mike Fasano is pretty glib as he thunders, "Put the
criminals behind bars, where they belong."

He's also dead wrong: Only the violent belong in jail. Other
lawbreakers belong at jobs, earning money to pay taxes and
restitution.

It's really easy these days to become a criminal, as "legislators" (I
use the term loosely) deal with all problems by slapping jail terms on
those who don't have good lawyers. I believe that $66-million would be
much more productive if it was spent on education rather than shoring
up the prison-industrial complex.

Mindless sloganeering has characterized our "justice" system for too
long. Voters should demand more constructive solutions than simply
more jail time.