Gertner’s decision
In her OpEd in The New York Times, retired Federal Judge Nancy Gertner says she was the presiding judge in the case about four innocent men who went to prison because of the FBI. This is the case about which Howie Carr has been haranguing Robert Mueller, saying that Mueller is somehow to blame for this terrible injustice. Judge Gertner wrote that Robert Mueller had absolutely no role in that case.
It seems to me that Howie has two choices about what to write in his next column. He can (1) explain to us how and why it is that Nancy Gertner would lie to us about this case, or (2) apologize to Robert Mueller. It would be icing on the cake, if Howie could explain to us the journalistic methods of research he used, and what sources he was relying upon.
— Paul A. Dobbs, Cornville, Ariz.
Repeat offenders
I recently returned from a trip to the Netherlands, and Denmark. I was very impressed by the cleanliness of both, and in the respectful manner that my granddaughter and I were treated.
A tour guide pointed out a prison and remarked that in order to fill it, criminals from other countries were imported. I asked if the government would take some prisoners from our over-crowded jails. His response was, “We have laws and if you do not obey the laws you will be punished.”
To my embarrassment, he said, “Americans seem to let some criminals get away with crimes, repeatedly, we try not to.”
Perhaps we need to follow the justice system of a country like Denmark, by punishing the guilty, the first time.
— Caroline A. Pannes, Norwood
Reducing recidivism
I write in response to Mayor Paul Heroux’s letter to the editor, “When repeat offenders offend again … and again,” which indicated his lack of understanding about state programs to reduce recidivism.
As the commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Correction, I find it appalling that Mayor Heroux would use the tragedy of decorated police officer Sean Gannon’s death to forward his personal agenda that he appears to have against the DOC Research Division.
The DOC deliberately uses only evidence-based programs, which have demonstrated recidivism reduction, and closely monitors fidelity to those programs. These programs have been scientifically proven to reduce recidivism. Moreover, the DOC Research Division has consistently been expanding analysis of recidivism rates in relation to inmate program participation as that data has become available and those inmates have been released.
In closing, while it’s not possible to guarantee that every offender leaving incarceration won’t reoffend, it is possible to espouse the policies and practices that are most likely to lead to success, and that is the mission we fulfill every day.
— Thomas Turco, commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Correction
Real vs. fake news
Adriana Cohen complains bitterly about how liberals are messing up the world with their “real election meddling that could be taking place on Facebook.” And she instantly dismisses the “Russian bots and inconsequential Facebook ads that didn’t affect the outcome of the 2016 election.” Hmmmm. I wonder what planet she lives on. Oh, I forgot — conservatives can pass a wand and make something fake news.
— Frederick C. Bucheit, ?Mill Hall, Pa.
