CONVICTS SHOULD HAVE RIGHTS SUSPENDED

The Point Of View article by Paul Rutherford is a stunning
condemnation of our so-called justice system ("Inmates conning us
over drug abuse," Feb. 11.) Any right-thinking citizen should be
appalled at the justice system being more concerned over convicts'
rights than the protection of society. One would be inclined to think
that once an offender has been convicted and sentenced to
incarceration by the justice system, that the convicted felon should
have his or her rights suspended for the duration of the sentence,
with the possible exception of access to legal counsel. As it is,
some of the lenient sentences fail to provide any deterrence.

Gary Schofield

(Rights are rights, they're viewed as inalienable.)