Pubdate: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 1998 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Author: Coyt Randal Johnston, Mary Ann Collins, Kathy E. Saul, Richard Marchese, Warren Reber CHARLES EDWARD GARRETT Our Absurd System Re: "Fugitive since 1970 found, officials say - Dallas man fled court after heroin conviction," Oct. 14. How totally absurd! In 1970, Charles Edward Garrett was sentenced to life in prison for possessing heroin; not dealing, but just having 23 capulets of this controlled substance on his person. Absurdity No. 1: Take people with a drug problem and spend tax dollars putting them through the "University of Crime" we call our prison system. Our prisons are overflowing because of the war on drugs. We have telethons and charity golf tournaments and ballroom dances and auctions for every disease imaginable except, of course, diseases associated with drug addiction. For drugs, we declare war and then lock up the afflicted. I hope we never declare a war on cedar pollen allergies! Absurdity No. 2: Lock them up for life. Fortunately, our state penal code has become a little less "absurd" since 1970, when possession of a small amount of marijuana (that would today be treated as a misdemeanor) would result in a life sentence. Lots of people were sentenced to life in prison because of small amounts of marijuana or heroin in the early '70s. This continues in the federal system even today. Mr. Garrett, however, did not go to prison to serve his life sentence: he walked out of the courtroom and assumed a new, law-abiding identity. For 28 years, he worked, paid taxes, and began raising a family. He did on his own what we would not have done for him if we had sent him to prison: He learned how to be a law-abiding citizen. On Oct. 12, Dallas Sheriff's Department officials arrested Mr. Garrett at his job as a maintenance technician at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and now our tax dollars are finally going to be spent the way we intended: He is going to be sent to prison to start serving his life sentence, at the age of 56. Am I the only one who thinks this is stupid? His story graces the same pages that include a mother's failure to come to the aid of her murdered child, a police officer arrested for rape, the death of a 3-year-old child who was the victim of physical abuse, and an arrest warrant for a man alleged to have broken into over 300 storage facilities in Tarrant County. If these people are ultimately convicted, are we really serving any purpose by sending Mr. Garrett to prison to live with them? COYT RANDAL JOHNSTON 900 Jackson St. Dallas, Tx 75202 214-741-6250 - ---------------------------------------- Jailing The Rehabilitated! As a member of society, I vote to release Charles Edward Garrett. He has served his time. There is absolutely no justice in him being imprisoned. If jail time is supposed to rehabilitate, then Mr. Garrett should be the poster person for the success of the theory; after all, just the fear of jail time rehabilitated him. I am a member of Parents of Murdered Children and a worker in the victims rights amendment movement so I am well versed in our joke of a criminal justice system - where we always put the victim on trial. I feel Mr. Garrett has proven to everyone he is worthy of our trust. Everyday the criminal justice system releases rapists, murderers, robbers and child molesters into society where they prove they are not rehabilitated by repeating their crimes. Now the system has come full term, taking a rehabilitated citizen and putting him behind bars. Why? So some bailiff or judge or prosecutor somewhere can have their hurt feelings soothed? What Mr. Garrett did only hurt himself. He has certainly paid society back tenfold in my book. I hope everyone will get behind this man and stop this injustice from taking place. MARY ANN COLLINS, Dallas - ------------------------------ The High Cost Of Jail The holding of Charles Garrett without bail is the most absurd waste of a life and of the taxpayers' money I have witnessed. The man has apparently become a responsible, working father. Why spend taxpayer money to jail a productive citizen? Let's spend our tax dollars to jail violent criminals. If someone still feels that he should be punished, have Mr. Garrett participate in community service. Don't let him rot in a jail cell. We would be needlessly punishing not only Mr. Garrett - but also his wife and children, and the taxpayers. KATHY E. SAUL, Lancaster - ---------------------------------- Prohibitionist Fanatics Re: "Man recalls 28 years on the run," Oct. 16. This is ridiculous. Prohibitionist fanatics know no shame. RICHARD MARCHESE, Fairfield, N.J. - ---------------------------------- He Deserves A Pardon It made me sick to read about what happened to Charles Edward Garrett. After 28 years of working hard to take care of his family he is once again behind bars. He deserves a pardon. I say to Gov. George W. Bush, pardon this man. Get off your hard-line horse and pardon this man now! WARREN REBER 6843 Town North Dr. Dallas, Tx. 75231 214-503-7511 - --- Checked-by: Patrick Henry