WASTE OF MONEY

To The Editor:

Regarding "State's High Rate Of Women Inmates Focus Of
Study" (News Story, July 10): If cigarettes or alcohol were illegal
drugs (and "drugs" are what they are), many more people would be
incarcerated for either distributing or using these substances. This
is not to condone drug use or seek to make it legal, but incarcerating
women for small-time drug use or trafficking doesn't help society at
large or those incarcerated for the "crime." The money spent on
keeping many of these "criminals" in prison could be more wisely
spent.

Jay Hirsch

Altus