The reason why our present criminal justice system does not work, or is not working, is because all four basic factors justifying prison sentences must be equally met. Where is the reformation? It is virtually non-existent, or virtually forgotten once a prisoner leaves prison. Where is the deterrence factor? Simple news coverage here or fear of prison there do not cut it alone.

The days of blaming individual prisoners alone for crime must end. Society, especially those in government, must start becoming responsible and accountable for social ills. Society, as a whole, must start working towards correcting and/or preventing those social ills. Putting band-aides on gun shot wounds is not working and will not work. Society cannot continue to pass the buck or escape from the reality that all of us must start shouldering the blame for crime and its prisoners. Since we, as a society, create various social ills, only we, as a society, can work to eradicate or to lessen them.

The first step towards eradicating or lessening social ills is for citizens and those in government to recognize that prisoners are people and human too. Once that recognition takes hold, the second step is to follow the golden rule; that is, do to others whatever you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:18; Luke 6:31).

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