Sentences for Criminals

The only solution proposed by Joseph Bessette’s Commentary piece (“Crime, Maybe a Little Punishment,� Nov. 24) is that we need more jails to give longer sentences to more offenders.

Jails are already terribly overcrowded and money for more jails is hard to come by. If we only jailed those convicted of serious or violent felonies, there would be more room for those offenders who should be jailed and are not now.

Bessette makes no mention of alternative sentences, such as home detention, electronic surveillance, and community service, which can be administered at a far lower cost and can be an effective form of punishment for many now getting off with little or no sanction for their offense.

People on probation or parole, for example, who are doing community service in lieu of jail, are serving their time in the community, taking responsibility for their offense, and making restitution by doing badly needed work for government and private nonprofit agencies.

Community service sentences, with jail as a backup if it isn’t done, have been widely and successfully used for offenders with drug, property, and a broad range of other nonviolent offenses. Community service is no less a deterrent to subsequent offenses than jail, gives offenders a chance to gain self-esteem, and saves taxpayers millions of dollars per year.

JOHN GLASS

Community Service Program

Volunteer Center of San Fernando Valley