Research is overwhelming in pointing out that too many wrongfully incarcerated citizens stuff prisons, especially minority males, minor offenders, and those too poor to receive first-rate legal representation. Alabama is no different with its 29,400-plus inmates, of which 11,000 or so are released each year.
Common sense should lead one to believe that by preparing inmates to re-enter society as productive citizens is more cost-effective than releasing inmates into a biased and unforgiving world. Are politicians blind to the facts that preparing inmates and helping them upon release is right, humane and the Christian and Islamic thing to do?
An effort to help inmates help themselves will in turn reduce crime, strengthen families and create economically sound communities. Are these things not fundamental to a safe place to live and raise our children? I would hate to believe Alabamians are so calloused as to allow politicians the easy way out by blaming their constituents for the way they neglect supporting the Department of Corrections.
John O'Malley
President
First Stop-Second Chance
Birmingham
