Is Americas Prison System Providing Justice?
The prospect of local businessman Frank Patti spending 8 years in federal prison for tax evasion causes me to once again reflect upon the justness of throwing people in jail for non-violent crimes. Of course, Patti is not the only man facing a long prison sentence for this type of crime. Local commissioners facing such charges as bribery, racketeering, etc. could face sentences that would force them to spend the rest of their lives in prison. At 71, Frank Patti’s sentence could also amount to a life term. Interestingly, these potential prison terms are longer than those many murderers receive. If this sounds to you like I am some kind of “bleeding heart” who wants to see crime go unpunished, you are mistaken. People who know me know that I am a law and order kind of guy. As a Christian, I know no other way to be. I was taught by a Christian father and mother to respect the law, and I do. Before surrendering to a divine call to ministry, I was preparing for a career in law enforcement.
