locked up...

This week we talked about how drug issues can turn into prison issues. The security guards treat these inmates like animals. Instead of getting them some rehab or help, they immediately put them behind bars, especially if they're minorities. These "criminals" are born into the gang/drug life and that's the only life they know how to live. As human beings, they deserve a second chance. If not, they return back to jail after they're released because they don't know how else to live their lives.  It isn't fair because people that have money who made the same mistakes, get bailed out. People are convicted for possession/use of drugs while there's worse crimes like murder, rape, etc. These prisons waste so much money when they could get  more of these people help instead of putting them in jail. That won't solve anything because they won't learn from their mistakes. Most likely, they'll do it again and get locked up once again!
I have a friend who did one year in jail for assault and battery and got out because of good behavior. Once he got out, he returned back to his old ways. He keeps telling me that he's going to change and go back to school, since he dropped out of school in 8th grade. No matter how many times he tries to make a better life for himself, he can't stay out of trouble. Recently, he got arrested again. I give him advice to make a future for himself but he doesn't know how to do that alone. There's millions of teenagers out in the streets who are exactly like him. They need to get help before more kids ruin their lives because of drugs.