Martha Talks

...and out comes sensible policy.

Martha Talks is a website where Martha Stewart writes open letters to her fans about the status of her case--it's one part of a much-touted PR strategy to preserve her image during this whole affair.

I was looking to see if there'd been any such letter from Stewart since her release, and came upon the letter from Christmas:

So many of the women here in Alderson will never have the joy and wellbeing that you and I experience. Many of them have been here for years -- devoid of care, devoid of love, devoid of family.

I beseech you all to think about these women -- to encourage the American people to ask for reforms, both in sentencing guidelines, in length of incarceration for nonviolent first-time offenders, and for those involved in drug-taking. They would be much better served in a true rehabilitation center than in prison where there is no real help, no real programs to rehabilitate, no programs to educate, no way to be prepared for life "out there" where each person will ultimately find herself, many with no skills and no preparation for living.

And I must say that I agree wholeheartedly with all of what she's said. Our prison system is a complete mess--a truly disgraceful part of our society. First, on the drug issue: There's no reason that non-violent drug users should be put into prison. But moreover, legalizing the drugs would eliminate so much of the unlawful, often gang-related activity that occurs as a result. How much unlawful activity occurs because of cigarettes? Practically none. There's something telling in that. (And think of all the tax revenue we're missing out on!)

But perhaps even more disgraceful is the state of our prison system today. Not just in terms of the absurd number of prisoners, but also in the treatment that our prisoners get. I look at our prison system, and I fail to see how prisoners can be expected to become functional members of society upon their release, given the horrible conditions and behaviors that are promoted in prison. A jail sentence may now constitute an indirect death sentence due to HIV or Hep C infection--the reason that former prisoners are not allowed to give blood.

Punishment is necessary for prisoners. But if we're to solve the root of the problem, why not first go after the real criminals, and second ensure that the conditions of prison do not ensnare prisoners into a cycle of imprisonment and poverty? When prisoners are released again into free society, they should actually able to take up important functions within that society. That's not "soft on crime." That's common sense.