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Proposition 52: Jail Construction

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What Giari may not realize is that the threat of imprisonment, no matter how long or short, is a major deterrent to the commitment of minor crimes. Removal of this threat would remove the cause for many people to think twice before committing a criminal act.

The main purpose of imprisonment is not punishment or rehabilitation, but to deter others from becoming criminals.

For example, drunk driving is still considered to be a minor crime in this state. A main deterrent to drunk driving is the humiliation of being put behind bars, even if only for a few hours, if you are caught. Should this deterrent be removed, there would undoubtedly be an increase in drunk driving, and consequently, traffic fatalities caused by drunk drivers.

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To allow the removal of this significant deterrent to crime would be a crime in itself. By doing so, we would be encouraging the commitment of minor crimes, since the perpetrator would be deterred merely by the threat of a slap on the wrist, a stern scolding and ample opportunity to leave the state to avoid prosecution.

DAVID L. GOOD

Pomona

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