[barrett.t]

I ' ve evaluated what you have said tom however I still do not agree. I know what I know because I have worked with prisoners in the probabtion service. My niece is also a policewoman so it sort of runs in the family. If you kick a dog it will probably bite you. The same goes for human beings, the real issue in America, is the same as here in Britain Taxes. People want to live in a fair and just society but they don't want to pay for it. The years of conditioning that people from poor familes have could take years to eradicate concerning stealing and so on. That takes time commitment, patience and most of all money. Lots of prisoners are mentally ill, when's the last time you sat around thinking of killing and slicing someone to death. It's ok if you have money but if you are poor and uneducated you sell drugs. Let's think what about rodney king how do you justify that. Warders in an english prison were worse than the prisoners they were selling and dealing in drugs. Everyone I have ever met if they are honest have broken the law, even lawmen. There's a prison in Turkey where the people are treated with repect and kindness. They have a very low re-offending rate. This is in a country where most of the prison system is very brutal. Though I will concede one point life should mean life if you are a serial killer. I watched one American proggramme where this guy got of on a technicality. He served twenty years and he was suspected of killing two hundred women. That was not justice that was a farce and I felt so much for the families of the bereaved. They should spend life in prison but treated with respect and kindness and not brutalised by themselves and other prisoners.Taking away coffee is mean and spiteful. He is just like any politician pandering to his voting public. I would have more respect for him if he truly said what he thought and not what the politician inside him says to do.