Speak Out

Society must share blame for crimes

The death penalty is under discussion. Terrible crimes are committed, and we cry out for the extreme penalty. But society has a share in the responsibility for the crime.

We tolerate environments for children which are harsh both physically and psychologically. We neglect the efforts of the children and the parents to change the environment. We do not study or correct the provocations which lead people to early criminality; we do not remedy the known bad conditions; and we inadequately discipline early bad behavior. Our help is insufficient.

We punish transgressions, necessarily, and part of the punishment is jail and prison. In our jails, we do not rehabilitate. In jail, we abuse further the inmates' stressed personalities. We let prisoners mingle with other criminals and become further hardened.

We release to society people who are overwhelmed with the harshness of life, coarsened, angry, and unable to function normally. What do we get from such people? Of course, we get terrible crimes. A retroactive death penalty will not stop these crimes. Life without possibility of parole can be made to work.

For our own selfish reasons, we must treat more wisely unfortunate children and the people in our jails. We have failed our responsibility to aid one another, to study our criminal nature, and so we are partly responsible for crime. A moderate amount of our time and money will pay off in crime reduction, a healthier society, and in a better conscience for ourselves.

Charles Walton
Los Gatos

Photo: Keeping cool at Sunnyvale's Serra Park

Columnist Mark Mayfield: There's nothing like the lure of fishing

Sunnyvale Serra A's win TOC minors

Saenz, Kiel join all-stars football fraternity