Rehabilitation makes more sense than prison
Regarding “State’s chief justice: Reform sentencing” (Metro, Jan. 26), I have served as a grand juror. I am bound by secrecy — but, in general, a number of cases we heard amounted to “nuisance crimes.” Some rise to a felony because of the relatively low threshold set in such cases, or offenders have prior misdemeanor convictions.
I agree with the chief justice. Many who are charged are addicted to drugs or are mentally ill. They repeat offenses to support addiction. “Warehousing” them is not the answer. We should encourage rehabilitation through medical treatment, family support, education and imposing community or public service. Consider reclassifying low-grade felony crimes and try them as misdemeanors at the lower courts — without mandatory prison sentences. The Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform’s proposals should be implemented with potential savings redirected toward producing a more educated Georgia.
C.S. Thachenkary, Atlanta
Cartoonist knows how to stir up emotions
The concept behind the work of a political cartoonist is to create emotion in the reader. Mike Luckovich never fails to elicit responses with his work, both positive and negative. He’s a treasure.
If a recent letter writer was so offended by the cartoonist’s opinion of Paula Deen, then she is failing to grasp the essence of the work (“Cartoon about chef was ‘beyond tasteless’ ” Readers write, Opinion, Jan. 29). What Luckovich does with his cartoons is what editorial writers do in their columns. Still, if one is so put off by his work, just don’t bother looking anymore. Problem solved. I continue to enjoy and devour Luckovich’s work and look forward to each and every day his work appears in the AJC — regardless of what emotion it might stir up.
Mark Stulberger, Dunwoody
Georgia legislators ignore the obvious
Speaker David Ralston (and our other leaders in the General Assembly) feel that banning gifts to Georgia legislators is unnecessary. Then why not allow unlimited gifts to judges and juries, freely offered by parties in a court case and their legal representatives — as long as those gifts are duly reported?
Judges and juries (just like legislators) are charged with protecting the overall interests of the people of our state. Each makes decisions that affect the fate of individual interests. But apparently the “unnecessary” prohibition of gifts in the judiciary system serves only to push judicial corruption underground — right?
Perhaps someday, people will look back upon the purchase of legislative influence much as we today look back on the purchase of slaves: part of the accepted culture of the beneficiaries but ultimately indefensible.
Tom Tortorici, Atlanta
