Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 1981)
daily nebraskan pageS monday, august 24, 1931 Brimming prisons Continued from Page 4 A recent report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics offers strong support for financial restitution as one alter native. The report contends, "most victimizations lead to losses that seem readily manageable through restitution programs. The only exception cited by the report - "Restitution of Victims of Personal and Household Crimes - is auto theft, where one-third of the losses exceeded $1,000. And even so, only 32 percent of auto thefts resulted in no recovery of the loss. The strongest argument against restitution as an alter native to prison is that it makes crime an even bet; at worst a thief will have to give back what he stole. Never theless, in purely pragmatic terms, it seems to work. Since the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration started developing and testing restitution programs in 1976, mostly for juvenile offenders, 87 percent of the eligible juveniles successfully completed their restitution agreements, and less than 15 percent were rearrested for new offenses. Thus it appears that restitution is not only more practical than new prison construction but also more effective in terms of crime reduction. And not just for juveniles. A 1978 survey of 40 adult restitution programs also showed encouraging results. Renshaw warns that a major shift to restitution would be followed by an apparent increase in criminal activity. This is so, he said, because the possibility of restitution would probably increase the reporting of crimes that now go unreported. "Law-entorcement otticials as well as victims may De influenced to take actions in cases previously considered trivial where the potential benefit is not direct and the sanction (restitution) is more certain. he said. Probably the biggest obstacle to restitution and other non-prison alternatives is the notion that anything short of imprisonment amounts to softness on crime. That may change as more of us come to understand the degree to which imprisonment increases criminality. Besides, wouldnt most victims of nonviolent ottenses get more satisfaction from restitution than from learning that the criminal has been packed off to prison? (c) 1931 Tht Washington Post Company Letters policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from readers and interested groups. Letters will be selected on the basis of clarity, time liness, originality and space available in the paper. Letters sent to the newspaper for publication become the property of the Dairy Nebraskan and cannot be re turned. The Daily Nebraskan reserves the right to edit and condense all submitted letters. Readers are also welcome to submit material as guest opinions, subject to the editor's decision to print the material as a letter or guest opinion. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publica tion, and requests to withhold names will be granted only in exceptional circumstances. Submit all material to the Daily Nebraskan, Room 34, Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb., 68588. Luna? or DiiweR F1SD & CDIPS Jr WHY SHOULD ANYONE JUMP OUT OF A PERFECTLY GOOD AIRPLANE? 1 Ail? W 'O' SC. IT'S SAFE. FUN. RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE AND EASY. (GRAVITY DOES ALL THE WORK) BLUE SKY JUmP SCHOOL USPA JUMPM ASTERS USPA INSTRUCTORS OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Call Evenings: 483-5970 Group Rates Available Timely savings to'b gufe - pieefl ferns jpa'l fee iisediog, j .? 1:.:, -. ; . : & ' faSpmSr 1 i si, ; 80 Sheets, college ruled. Cover colors: red. blue, green, and gold. Originally $1.09. 80 Sheets, narrow ruled. Cover colors; red, blue, green and gold. Originally $1.09. rr- !MM. WMK KOTCDOOK , b . i 6 9 v vmxvt nutm mum t r , ? Get 2 Expresso pens and a Major Q jn Accent marker ... a $2.07 value "VyVv for only 99 cents. i M Fre? Buy Two Expresso Pens... A $128 value Major V fUpitsio V Lm 0 3 mm Accent wtth Thru M Color J m f 1' I e 11 V WW Black Fine Point Plastic Pen. Regularly 69 cents. Blue Fine Point h Plastic Pen Regularly 69 cents. Yellow Major Accent marker. Regularly 59 cents. Offer good while supply lasts. himb I,,, mtm bim.il w m ii wmtmm mnwn'i wmWiiiiiiwiiiiw'w iwmin iiinnnintiinii hiihwihi w muni lfflffi nm Open Monday-Friday, 8-5:30, Saturday, 9-5:30 We're more than a "bookstore J Cards 1 2th & R Streets in Lincoln Center 476-01 1 1