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I think the best way to curb these crimes is to provide treatment. Most of these crimes and many others are a direct result of addiction. I work in the treatment field and also have 13 years of sobriety under my belt. I have been to prison and did not get what I needed there to quit commiting crimes and get clean and sober. What happened for me was I learned a whole new set of crimes and met new criminal connections. My life change happened after entering a residential treatment program. Today and for the past 11 years I have the privallege of working with mothers that are addicted to substances. They are not "bad" people, just sick. Many have commited numerous crimes to support their habits. I think it is a bad idea to put them in prison without addressing the issue. And what about the already over burdened child welfare system? Where do we put the kids? I certainly do not support mandatory sentences and more prison beds especially without treatment.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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