End Parole Merry go round. and stop crime.

Jenn Brown, 11 years ago

@Betty- have you ever worked in a Texas prison? I am guessing the answer is no. Parole is an incentive to change your ways. It doesn’t work for everyone. No one way will work for everyone. However, for some, their first prison sentence is also their last. And all those “perks” you speak of (college, appeals, etc) are not as easy as you think. Educational and vocational opportunities are based on behavior and not available to everyone. Illegal aliens and those in certain custody classes are also ineligible for such programs. Appeals are guaranteed by the letter of the LAW! You cannot simply say “You are a criminal and therefore have no rights”. How many people have been released due to a successful appeal of a wrongful conviction? That is what the appeal process is for. While some may abuse the process, many others do not.
If you take away the chance for early release, the prisons will become a free-for-all, more under-manned than they already are, and more officers will be hurt. Another point, just because two offenders are convicted of the same crime, say, Aggravated Robbery, does not necessarily mean the circumstances of the crime and extents are the same. Blanket sentences are not the answer. By no means is the criminal justice system perfect. However, until you know more about the inner workings of the prison populations, let’s not muck up the system.
We have enough jails. We do need a higher livable wage. We need more OFFICERS (we are not “guards”). And, the jobs are already out there for those brave enough to serve the State of Texas as a Correctional Officer.