An Alternative to Jail — for Some

Our penal system here in these United States is messed up. We used to send people to jail. Now we incarcerate them in "correctional facilities." Ain't that sweet. We've softened the name but they are still jails. I have, over the last fifteen years, had the pleasure of visiting two jails in two states, the second on a fairly regular basis. They are pretty much alike, as far as construction, manning, and inmates are concerned.

California has lots of jails and lots of inmates. Now they have been ordered to reduce the number of people under lock and key because of over-crowded conditions. Some states are considering reducing their inmate populations because of the high costs of hosting them. Most of the inmates I interact with admit their guilt (to me, not to the courts). Some have committed crimes for which they should be imprisoned for a long, long time while others have just made stupid mistakes in judgment. Some are repeat offenders while others are in for the first time.

There are some people that should not be locked up, in my opinion: petty thieves, forgers, check bouncers, pot smokers, prostitutes, and first-time convicted vandals. I'm not saying they should not be punished. I am saying that there are punishments more suitable and perhaps more corrective than sitting in a jail cell.

All crimes in which the victim has suffered loss of money or property should require restitution plus. A person who robs another, but does not cause bodily injury, should be required to pay that amount back plus a certain percentage — a percentage that would make it not worth stealing in the first place. If that person is caught with the stolen goods, he should not only have to return what he stole but should be required to add at least 50% more to it. If he (or she) has a family, the courts should specify a certain amount a week or month, leaving only enough to subsist on.

Some offenses, like panhandling, smoking pot and prostitution, while not in the public's best interest and sometimes a public nuisance, should not be awarded jail time unless committed along with another crime. Selling drugs and pimping, on the other hand, should be more severely punished. Perhaps a more suitable punishment, should that be desired, would be to require these offenders to perform community service under strict supervision. They could weed public gardens, pick up cigarette butts from public parking lots, and sweep streets and sidewalks with a broom, dust pan, and bucket. There are countless other social projects they could undertake that would be more beneficial than idling away ninety days in the clink.

We do have way to many people in our jails. Perhaps it's time to rethink our penal system to provide more beneficial forms of "correction" to not only unload our jails and save money, but also to provide a more equitable and practical means to minimize petty crime.