THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 24, 1994 TAG: 9409240006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
What is happening to Virginia? Gov. George Allen has asked for $367 million for prisons when at the same time, money is being taken away from proper education for our citizens and their families. This is total insanity.
I read with interest the series on prisons and parole, and one particular point jumped out at me: 85 percent of the people polled on prisons prefer that money be spent on education rather than prisons.
Why is money that is spent on education to help a person avoid prison less valuable than money spent after a person has fallen into a life of crime?
Is education not a more effective deterrent to a life of crime than fear of punishment?
How has crime become so prevalent when we already have jails bulging at the seams? Has punishment not really been much of a deterrent?
Don't most criminals believe they won't get caught? Do they really care about going to jail when they have sunk so low anyway? Do we want to commit our money for years to come on such a negative, demoralizing and demeaning project?
Why not let the light of progress, hope and education of our citizens prevail instead?
I urge the governor and our state legislators to increase spending on education, both higher and lower.
Let us put Virginia on the map for its superior schools rather than its superior prisons.
Virginia has dropped tremendously in its educational status in the United States. I find that sad and embarrassing!
ELIZABETH S. MASTEN
Norfolk, Sept. 18, 1994 by CNB