Letter to the Editor: Debating the Delay of Measure 57

Debating the Delay of Measure 57

April 12, 2010

Regarding Joshua Marquis' In My Opinion column, "Prison sentencing: Shelving of Measure 57 was another shell game," April 4:

Our son is incarcerated as an adult at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility. He has been fortunate to have had access to all the treatment programs provided by the facility. We have seen a tremendous difference in the way he responds to his environment and his circumstances after 2½ years of incarceration resulting from a Measure 11 offense.

He tells us about what programs work and what seems ineffectual. He says that the kids who can focus on the positive have better success than those who get depressed and are focused on their incarceration. From our point of view, these programs have been key in turning our son's life around.

Putting more youths in jail is not a public safety solution. Treatment before a youth is incarcerated is a more economical use of taxpayer money. Having Measure 57 put on hold was smartly done by the legislators. I thank them.

Saving education and other vital services serves our state more wisely than locking up our youth for draconian Measure 11 offenses.

I realize that the district attorneys are not happy that Measure 57 was put on hold. They clearly enjoy having so much power.

EVELYN TAYLOR
North Plains