THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 3, 1995 TAG: 9503310014
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
I am an employee at the state prison in Chesapeake. My father, too, worked for the Department of Corrections some 20 years ago. When I read David Naar's ``No possible good could come from a prison on the Eastern Shore'' (Another View, March 10), I was, to say the least, offended.
It is the reasonable expectation of the public that convicted felons remain incarcerated. Due to the rise in crime, not to mention an already overcrowded penal system, more prisons must be built. In order for a prison to run, it must have a staff. These people come from all walks of life - retired military, part-time students, secretaries, doctors, etc.
The far-fetched depiction by Mr. Naar of prison employees was altogether inaccurate. He attempted to paint a picture of alcoholism and manic depression.
Mr. Naar's ``nightmare'' fairy tale was an attempt to block the proposed prison on the Eastern Shore in his region. However, there was no regard in his letter for those folks affected by his insulting remarks. Perhaps the column would have been better titled, ``It's OK if the prison is somewhere else . . . as long as it isn't in my back yard.''
T. A. SAWYER
Virginia Beach, March 13, 1995 by CNB