Put more prisoners to work
A recent news story reports that some rural towns are relying on prisoners to do community chores, from digging a pond at a school to mowing the baseball field to restoring landmarks.
They have the right idea. We would do well to follow their example.
People who obey the law, work hard to keep families fed, clothed and housed, and try to eke out a little leisure time, while lawbreakers do little or no work and get free food, clothing and shelter.
We must prepare prisoners for responsibility, and there's no better way than by putting them to work. You sometimes see prison crews cleaning up along Oahu roadways. But they could do more. Every prisoner should put in a eight hours a day of real work. Those serious about learning a trade could combine the learning with the doing, but all should have to work or study or both. It makes no sense to let inmates laze around in prison and then expect them to jump into a job once they get out. Authorities may find implementing work programs more difficult than letting prisoners do nothing, but instilling a work ethic should be a primary goal.
--Charlotte Phillips