Make justice 'restorative' to achieve proper results

Make justice 'restorative' to achieve proper results
EDITOR:
In response to the recent letter, "Justice system easy on criminals, hard on victims," I would add that most people would extend the same heart-felt sympathy to the Shannon Kos family and her friends. I do as well.
It is very easy for us to seek revenge when we lose a loved one or hear about heinous, violent crimes. Our sense of anger and retaliation is understandable in these situations. However, I would caution our community in its use of a faulty theology in a tit-for-tat manner. Matching the offense is not the meaning of "an eye for eye." Christians are called to a higher standard as regards our attitude toward life; revenge is not part of that calling. As difficult as it sometimes is, we must find the strength and not react in a similarly criminal manner.
Prisoners do not "eat well," but simply adequately; they do not "get to work out," but only exercise; and they do not "get a free education," but must wait on a list for fundamental skills programming. The idea of using inmates in experimental lab testing is as heinous as any other crime committed.
That said, our criminal justice system is in need of repair. The victim is often left out of the equation of justice. Offenders are rarely required to be accountable for their injustice to another human being because the system regards the offense as law breaking and not harm done to another person. The community cannot feel safe when 97 percent of the people imprisoned return to their communities having had very little programming for rehabilitation.
A "restorative" justice model is a better, more humane way of justice. This way promises more positive, life enhancing results. This way is not only This way is not only more cost effective, but reflects our best human response to hurtful actions to one another.
BRIAN R. CORBIN
Youngstown
X The writer is the director of the Office of Social Action of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.
Taxes on high incomes higher than they seem
EDITOR:
A recent letter regarding the proposed Bush tax cut preserves the myth that the plan will be overly generous to upper bracket taxpayers. This notion, held over from the Reagan era, is the result of focusing only on the marginal rates of taxation. What is not understood or mentioned in such elementary commentary is the array of elements that ultimately determine the true rate of taxation.
The phase-out of exemptions and deductions and the imposition of the Alternative Minimum Tax are only a few of the technicalities that effectively raise the tax rate on high income to a greater degree than implied by simple rate tables. Consequently, marginal rate reductions do not yield the disproportionate results commonly cited in the popular media.
LOREN KINDLER
Hubbard
Union leader could do more for members
EDITOR:
I read the article written by Don Shilling concerning CSC Steel and its COBRA health benefits. John Kubilis, the president of Steelworkers Local 2243, is full of "stuff." His first priority should be the welfare of his union's members.
Instead of wasting his time on the inevitable, he should be working with his fellow workers to prepare for the future. He should contact the insurance carrier and ask to hold an informational meeting to answer questions from the rank and file. The carrier will bring in a team at that time to sign up the workers.
The reporter must remember that the insurance carrier is losing $170,000 a week in revenue. If it were done properly, the carrier would extend a seven to 14 day grace period to enroll the union members under the COBRA program. This would allow the persons who want to take advantage of the law that was created for this type of situation enough time to think things over and gather up the funds necessary to participate.
THADDEUS M. PRICE
Warren