08-6

I’m interested in the criminal justice system of our country. It seems to me that something has to be done if we are to (36)survive as a country. I certainly don’t know what the answers to our problems are. Things certainly get (37)complicated in a hurry when you get into them. But I wonder if something couldn’t be done to deal with some of these problems. One thing I’m concerned about is our practice of putting (38)offenders in jail who haven’t harmed anyone. Why not work out some system (39)whereby they can pay back the debts they owe society instead of (40)incurring another debt by going to prison and of course coming out at the (41)influence of hardened criminals? I’m also concerned about the short prison sentences people are (42)serving for serious crimes. Of course one alternative to this is to (43) restore capital punishment, but I’m not sure I would be for that—I’m not sure it’s right to take an eye for an eye.