The Least Of These

1. Judy Farrell April 27, 2015 at 4:22 pm Reply

   Thank you, Carolyn, and thank you again for today's column. Little did I know about the criminal justice system until a very close family member was incarcerated for many years. Prior to this catastrophe, I was one of those "if you do the crime, you do the time:" folks. During these past ten years during my efforts with various non-profits focused on reform, I have seen some positive changes, but prisons basically remain punitive holding places for the poor, uneducated and mentally ill. Due to the Oregon Department of Corrections budget decisions, only a small amount of their millions are targeted for prisoner education, job training, and drug/alcohol treatment. Two agencies, Oregon CURE and Partnership for Safety and Justice work diligently for change here in Oregon....kudos to their volunteers and to folks like you who bring this critical issue forward. training
   • Caroline Miller April 27, 2015 at 4:42 pm Reply

     Nothing teaches like the experience of knowing someone who is cut up in the system. Thank you for sharing your knowledge,Judy. It takes time to change hearts and minds. Voices like yours are extremely important.
2. S. L. Stoner April 28, 2015 at 9:19 am Reply

   I spent years working in the area of prison reform. I learned that many prisoners can't read and that as, children, their lives were harsher and that dictated their view of reality as adults. I concluded that we, society, create criminals by our neglect of children. I also came to believe that, for most prisoners, we would have greater success if we took the thousands we spend each year on a single prisoner and simply paid for housing, food and education on the outside. Yes, there are some prisoners whose take on the world make them too dangerous for the rest of us but they are not the majority. The others simply need a compassionate and real chance.
   • Caroline Miller April 28, 2015 at 9:49 am Reply

     I couldn't agree more. While in public office, I worked with others to shift jail money into early childhood health and education and assistance to teen age mothers. The criticism for taking this position brought me nothing but harsh criticism. There's a primitive beast that lurks the jungle of our society.

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