Crime Prevention Starts at Home

* Re “Education as Crime Prevention,” editorial, Aug. 7: Why not start “crime prevention” even earlier than in prison? Start it in the home. Start it by passing laws to make parents responsible for the crimes their juvenile children commit. Certainly poor parenting can result in juvenile crime, and possibly parents should be deemed accessories to any crime committed by their child.

Parents should be reminded that along with the joys of parenthood comes a downside. I’m sure that parents have many excuses for why their children end up in jail. And admittedly it is not easy to raise good kids, but if you aren’t ready to accept the responsibility, then don’t ruin some child’s life by bringing him or her into this world.

JOSEPH DENKER

Studio City

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Education is the key to rehabilitating many of our inmates. I have almost 20 years of experience dealing with corrections. One of the most common requests from men and women who are incarcerated is, “how can I get my high school diploma, or can I get college classes? I want to make a change in my life.” With an illiteracy rate hovering around 20% and an average fourth-grade education for inmates in California, do we not see the connection? Ignorance goes hand in hand with crime.

Educational opportunities are very limited. If we educate people, crime can be reduced. This is money well spent--an investment in safety for all of us. Reduced crime equals reduced taxes. This is not coddling, this is protecting the interests of our citizens who otherwise might be the next victims.

VALERIE JONES

El Toro