By Ole Yearian
San Francisco Chronicle
SAN FRANCISCO — In the March 29 Letters, Jill Staten asks why we should pay billions to improve medical and dental care for people in our prison system. It’s a reasonable question, but one with reasonable answers.
If we fail to do so, we become criminals ourselves. Not all prisoners are guilty: That should be obvious to everyone by now. Even those who are guilty cannot be subjected to cruel or inhuman punishment, a protection of the U.S. Constitution.
Our prisons have become a disgrace to us all. We must take responsibility for them and, if we insist on sentencing vast numbers people to prison, provide at least minimal care for the health of those sentenced. Even law-abiding people can be convicted of crimes: It happens every day. We are responsible for how we treat those whom we condemn.
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