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Give youthful offenders an alternative to prison

Saturday, July 4, 2009

(Updated 3:00 am)

I am very much for revising the habitual-felon rules with more programs for nonviolent drug users being put in place.

Long prison terms are costly and make inmates bitter against society. We also should take another look at more first-offender and intervention programs for youth up to age 21 who are nonviolent but made a mistake.

Giving them a record for the rest of their lives hinders them from getting a decent job. If kids are using drugs and got caught, get them into a drug-intervention program.

Jail and a police record aren’t the answer. It only says to them you’re not worth anything. It ends up costing society a whole lot more than giving a young person a second chance.

Sharon Wiley
Kernersville

What do you think?

4 comment(s)

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huck

July 4, 2009 - 7:28 am EDT

"Habitual" implies that they've already been given their "second chance".

danagain

July 4, 2009 - 8:25 am EDT

The writer mentions habitual-felon rules and then first offenders. Which one does she mean?

I'm all for another chance for first offenders (with certain exceptions like rape, murder, and other violent crimes) but as already mention by huck, habitual felon means someone who has committed multiple felonies. Those folks need to be behind bars.

rahrah

July 4, 2009 - 9:03 am EDT

Ms. Wiley begins her letter mentioning non-violent drug users. I'd imagine a lot of those are pot-smokers, who got a fair showing of support a couple days ago on this blog.

left-wing conspiracy theorist

July 4, 2009 - 12:03 pm EDT

These 'youthful offenders' more likely than not have been involved in the court system as a juvenile, and have spent time at wilderness camp, group homes, and youth development centers (a.k.a., children's prison). In my experience in working with these youth, sometimes the only thing that puts the fear of God in them is their 16th birthday, when they can be charged as an adult for their poor decisions. If this is no longer as much a concern for them, their knuckleheadedness will only continue, and they could very easily get caught up in some nonsense and get in way over their heads.

I appreciate and understand your intent, Ms. Wiley, but this idea, if adopted, will in the end lead to more pain and suffering for our youth, in addition to creating more victims of crime.