Chief
07-22-2007, 08:20 AM
Kathy Durban has the lead story in this morning's paper, about the way our legal system is handling career criminals, AKA "repeat offenders". She does a pretty good job of pointing out how many breaks we are giving to criminals in this state, all in the name of avoiding the construction of new prisons.
The guy she chose to profile on this, in my opinion, is exactly why we need to be building more secure facilities. Not only is this guy a career criminal, he's an admitted 20 year career methanmphetamine addict, with all of the behavior that produces, and i don't believe that rehabilitation is an option for people like him.
I am quite sure that he is remorseful now that he's exhausted the patience of everyone in the justice system, and is finally facing the prospect of a long stretch in prison. I'm sure he would love to be allowed into the drug treatment program he now wants so badly, but just how many breaks is one man entitled to?
One can certainly argue that had this man been faced with serious consequenses for his crimes at any time in the past, he might have caught a clue before he exhausted his options and we wasted so much money allowing him to play the system so effectively.
The 800 pound gorilla in the room on this is the mis-guided notion that we can somehow treat people who have chosen to use one of the most addictive substances known to man, and magically overcome what has been repeatedly shown to be a nearly un-breakable addiction. The recitivism rate for methamphetamines is astronomical, and the few people who do break out are exeptions, not the rule.
The fellow that is profiled this morning neither qualifes for or deserves any more chances. Considering the long trail of wreckage he has left behind him both in the public arena, and with his immediate family, I think the best outcome for everyone concerned is to put him somewhere that he can do no more damage to anyone. We are going to pay for his misbehavior in one way or another, so why not cut our losses now, and incarcerate him long enough until we can be certain that he is incapable of doing any more harm.
This guy is the poster child for mandatory prison sentences, not drug court...
Stout hearts...
The guy she chose to profile on this, in my opinion, is exactly why we need to be building more secure facilities. Not only is this guy a career criminal, he's an admitted 20 year career methanmphetamine addict, with all of the behavior that produces, and i don't believe that rehabilitation is an option for people like him.
I am quite sure that he is remorseful now that he's exhausted the patience of everyone in the justice system, and is finally facing the prospect of a long stretch in prison. I'm sure he would love to be allowed into the drug treatment program he now wants so badly, but just how many breaks is one man entitled to?
One can certainly argue that had this man been faced with serious consequenses for his crimes at any time in the past, he might have caught a clue before he exhausted his options and we wasted so much money allowing him to play the system so effectively.
The 800 pound gorilla in the room on this is the mis-guided notion that we can somehow treat people who have chosen to use one of the most addictive substances known to man, and magically overcome what has been repeatedly shown to be a nearly un-breakable addiction. The recitivism rate for methamphetamines is astronomical, and the few people who do break out are exeptions, not the rule.
The fellow that is profiled this morning neither qualifes for or deserves any more chances. Considering the long trail of wreckage he has left behind him both in the public arena, and with his immediate family, I think the best outcome for everyone concerned is to put him somewhere that he can do no more damage to anyone. We are going to pay for his misbehavior in one way or another, so why not cut our losses now, and incarcerate him long enough until we can be certain that he is incapable of doing any more harm.
This guy is the poster child for mandatory prison sentences, not drug court...
Stout hearts...