Reply ID: 49hf
To "Social Justice is Biblically Based"

Thank you for your thoughtful comments about the possibility of releasing first time offenders—including violent offenders—after ten years if they've been rehabilitated.

The chairman of the Mississippi Senate Corrections Committee has introduced Senate Bill 2123. If passed, SB 2123 would make all first time offenders, including those with a "victim" charge, eligible for parole consideration after serving 50% of their sentence or 20 years, whichever is less. The bill is still pending in committee at this time.

Draconian sentences have not society any safer or reduced crime rates. We must begin focusing on rehabilitation, discard the decades-old mentality that drives our current system, and get SMART on crime. Our nation is behind the times on this.

I join you in extending condolences to the families who have suffered. The families of prisoners suffer as much—or more—than the prisoners. And my heart goes out to the crime victims also. I've been a victim before. A close relative whom I love dearly was a victim of violence for years. I do understand the victims' pain and suffering. They too deserve a system that makes society safer instead of one that destroys humanity and makes people worse or more dangerous.

And one final note in the interest of transparency. You referred to my recent posts as "[my] exposes." I want to be clear that I did not author the media reports I've been sharing on my blog space. I've simply shared them, and the authors are credited in each post. I know many of them and have deep respect for their work. It is true that I contributed to many of the articles as a source or by providing background, but the reporters who write the articles work tirelessly to expose the realities of our system, and they deserve all the credit.