I recently read the story of a woman who was thrown in jail for failure to complete a court-ordered “diversion program.” It was the result of her first offense: shoplifting. Her jailers refused to give her pants or feminine hygiene products for THREE DAYS while in jail so she appeared in court without pants, humiliated and dejected. The prosecutor was asking she be imprisoned for several more months. Months for such a minor offense? The judge was appalled at her treatment and released her, thankfully.

When prisons are overflowing and prisoners must go without basic toiletries and eat rancid food because it’s too costly to keep them in decent health, why are we not looking at the laws that put them there? Prison should be for the worst offenders, those who harm others. Too many people are in prison for debts, white collar crime, child support, smoking dope/possession, prostitution, shoplifting/theft, etc.