Peering into Prisons

Oregonian:

But the DAs missed the point of our frustration, which is that Oregon has become a state that is more than willing to cut a child's school year, but can't possibly reduce a man's prison sentence. Public safety -- especially prisons and the sentencing policies that drive their costs -- have been shielded from the cuts, the scrutiny and the reforms that have hit every other significant public service in Oregon.

That's why we were so supportive of a new high-profile state commission on public safety in an editorial that prompted local DAs Mike Schrunk, John Foote and Bob Herman to come by for a friendly visit. It's also why that it's fine by us that the commission, which holds its first meeting today, doesn't include DAs or anyone else whose first reflex is to defend the status quo. The commission will be led by Chief Justice Paul De Muniz of the Oregon Supreme Court and former Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

Read the full article here. Discuss below.