DRUG REHABILITATION - PRISON-BASED PROGRAMS HAVE FAILED

I was delighted to see your coverage of the reported upsurge in inmates
imprisoned on drug-related crimes. The article was balanced and showed
several sides of the issue. However, a comment from Tom Blomberg, acting
dean of the Florida State University School of Criminology, that "once they
[inmates] get out they are ill-prepared for today's society" may seem sound
on the exterior but is prone to sink under stress and scrutiny.

The fact remains that most inmates entering Florida's prison system are
repeat drug-related offenders. This is no surprise. However, recidivism is
occurring even though millions of tax dollars have been wasted on
prison-based drug rehabilitation. These prison-based drug-intervention
programs have failed miserably. In tight fiscal times, these precious
resources should not be squandered on inept drug programs. The monies need
to be redirected to other substantive programs, such as those for our youth
and our seniors.

The premise that drug-related inmates released from prison are ill- prepared
is folly; they were ill-prepared long before they received their inmate
numbers. For the most part, these individuals are the proverbial chaff from
society's wheat. They have had endless opportunities to change their
lifestyles, but opted for quick drug money and even a quicker high. This is
why they are ill-prepared for society.

Our prisons are much like our military. Everyone there is a volunteer. Not
one inmate was ever drafted into a world of crime. The more liberal-minded
in our population would have you believe that poverty and growing up
fatherless are largely to blame for the misdeeds of the incarcerated. That
flawed premise, like bell-bottom pants, becomes popular every so often.
Unlike fashion trends, blaming others just isn't acceptable.

While our society may have its shortcomings, it shouldn't be blamed for
creating drug-related criminals or, worse yet, recidivism.

Randy Means, Director of Investigations Orange-Osceola State Attorney's
Office, Orlando