NONVIOLENT CRIME

I knew that if I read your editorial page long enough, I would eventually
find a position I agree with. The March 17 editorial, "Crime and
punishment," was absolutely correct.

Our current punitive method of dealing with our drug problem leads to the
question, "Who is better off by putting drug users in prison?"

Certainly, it is not the drug user. Prison is a violent place. It also
isn't the drug user's family. As if having a member of the family addicted
to drugs wasn't bad enough, the other family members must now cope
financially and emotionally with their loved one's prison term.

Society is no better off either. Its scarce police and prison resources are
being allotted for nonviolent drug offenders, leaving fewer resources
available for protection from violent criminals who are far more likely to
hurt citizens.

Also, the taxpayers get hit with a $25,000 bill for every year that the
drug offender is in prison. What a waste of money.

Steven D. Skelton

St. Louis