THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 26, 1994 TAG: 9408260059
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
THE NUMBER OF black males in our nation's prisons is increasing at an alarming rate. Callers had different ideas about how to stem the flow.
``Our government needs to put pressure on the ones who created the problem in the first place - parents and our legal system.'' one 25-year-old said.
An 18-year-old black male called to suggest that the media provide them with more positive images.
Here are some additional comments:
``Try being strict on them. Put them in church or in a good program so that they can have fun.'' - Kevin Slinker, 16, rising junior at Princess Anne High
``Capital punishment instead of jail for really serious crimes.'' - April Saler, 11, fifth-grade at Williams Elementary
``I would like to see culture centers in the projects - a positive, safe place for kids to come and learn and have fun. They could offer self-esteem classes, tutoring . . . and a strong volunteer program where black professionals could come and talk to the kids.
``(Norfolk spent) $52 million for Nauticus, I wonder what would happen if $52 million was pumped into this idea.'' - Teresa Smith, 32, Norfolk by CNB