One out of every 173 people in our country is in jail. And politicians are telling us we need to constru ct more jails in order to lock up more people. This solution is illogical when you consider that our prisons have become crime universities. If we are serious about reducing crime, our goal should be to get the maximum number of people out of crime universities. We must reserve prison space for the most violent offenders serving life terms.
Government programs are notorious for achieving the opposite results of their intended goals.
Th us, if we are intent on increasing crime, we increase the number graduating from our crime institutes, then we'll be assured of exceeding our goals. Alternatives to prison, such as house arrest, are proven to be more cost efficient and more effective in placing criminals back in the mainstream. We ought to insist criminals pay restitution to their victims. Perhaps criminals ought to pay two or three times damages. Restitution is rehabilitation.