Treating the disease is the better method

Editor,

This morning I had the honor of participating in a young man's trial and the outcome was less than favorable for anyone, except the prosecuting attorney. I saw our justice system cost the taxpayers of Montana in excess of $144,000 and not even blink.

Their minds were made up before I testified and that was obvious. I don't mind testifying and, in fact, it is actually an honor to be able to do so, but I don't think the judge heard a thing I said. I know for a fact there are 10 times worse people walking our streets and driving our roads this very minute, who truly need to be in prison for a long time, but the young man who received the sentence was not one of them.

Just prior to the case I was to testify in, the whole courtroom watched a man with over nine recorded DUI convictions walk out in his civilian clothes and back onto the streets with a fine and a threat of maybe going to the Watch Program for felony DUI offenders.

I guess I don't understand the logic. Why are five DUI convictions considered persistent felonies and nine DUI convictions are not? During the sentencing of the young man, the comment was made by the judge that "you have already been in prison two times, so let's see if the third time is the charm."

If two times didn't accomplish the desired outcome, how the heck does he expect a third will do any good?

I treat only the disease where society locks up its victims, rather than continue to treat the disease. It is also the only disease that, once arrested, will pose no further problems or threats to the victim or his or her family. Yet we continue dealing with it in ways that have not and do not work. The only thing incarceration does is that it allows the person access to an unlimited array of criminal activity and ways of thinking that they otherwise wouldn't encounter.

A person learns to survive in prison, not how to lead a productive life in regular society. This young man would have continued to respond to treatment while working at his job while taking care of his wife and new baby; however, now his wife will most likely need to access public assistance for her and her children to survive while the father is "doing his time" at Montana state prison.

I am an advocate of interrupting the addictive process while supporting a more responsible lifestyle, which is the exact opposite of what the prison system stands for. Yes, there are people who belong in prison for the safety of society at large and yes, there are people who need to be removed from the rest of the human race because they are dangerous. I also believe the certain threat of incarceration helps motivate those who would otherwise ignore their addiction and avoid going to treatment, but I do not believe it is the solution for over 85 percent of the people serving time right now.

It costs in excess of $80 per day to keep a person locked up and guess who pays that bill. My belief is the longer you can keep a person out of prison, provided they are being treated and the longer they are working an paying their way, the more economically effective our system is. Locking up a person is only effective if it is used as a consequence and not as the solution.

Our judges need to hear this loud and clear and repeatedly. I know that most criminals view prison as a minor inconvenience and nothing more. It's a place to get rested and healed for the next go around. It's a gift, not a consequence, for most.

Much more can be accomplished by holding that individual accountable while he or she is doing business on the outside. Five or 10 days in jail is much more painful than a year or two. I know these ideas will rattle some cages on both sides of the fence and that's OK. I also know if some people listen and take action, this will be a much better place and we will have a much more effective legal system.

When we stopped hanging murderers, kidnappers, child molesters, horse thieves and rustlers we made a mistake, and when we started locking up all the addicts and hope they change while they are in there is also a mistake.

Chuck Ripley, LAC

Polson