Pubdate: Wed, 15 May 2002
Source: High Point Enterprise (NC)
Copyright: 2002 High Point (N.C.) Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.hpe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/576
Author: MELVIN BROWN

POOR POLICIES PACK PRISONS

It was sad, those inmates who died in the fire at the county jail in 
Mitchell County. In response, our local sheriff is still talking about 
overcrowding. The fact is, any jailer on duty has two choices in case of 
fire - my life or the prisoner's life. He will choose his own life, because 
jailers think inmates are no good.

Now, for the overcrowding. Jails are for violent people. If the system will 
quit locking up bad-check writers, drug offenders and those who don't pay 
child support, jails wouldn't be overcrowded. We don't need a new jail, we 
need better authorities running the system.

Three out of four inmates are black. What does that tell you? Inmates are 
in jail for months because the district attorneys in North Carolina keep 
giving them new court dates. If we build a new jail, it won't be long 
before we need another one.

This has got to stop. Spend the money addressing the problem. Half the 
people in jail are there because of lack of money and trying to live in 
this racist society.

Inmates can build furniture when they're locked up. Then, when they're free 
and apply for a job, corporate people turn them down because they have a 
record.

Everyone has done bad at one time - the police, the sheriff, the DA. The 
only difference is they weren't caught. So use this money for prevention 
programs.

MELVIN BROWN

N. Downing Street
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart