The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/118237
O Staff Editorial pinion Page 2 March 22, 2013 Communitiy suffers from lack of funding for prisons... W hen choosing between the lesser of two evils, the problem itself is not resolved nor diminished; in the end, evil is still present. In 2006, prisons in California were overcrowded. Overcrowded so much that the prison system was at 202 percent of its originally designed capacity. With this being said, the problem was never fixed, but rather ignored. By May 23, 2011, the problem was so bad that the US Supreme Court had to issue a ruling saying that California had to reduce that percentage to 137.5 percent in two years. This was based off of the fact that conditions were so horrible that they violated the Eighth Amendment and its ban on cruel and unusual punishment. In August of that same year, the percentage was at 180 percent, and to get to that percentage designated by the Supreme court, 43,000 prisoners would still have to be released. Now, today, the percent of capacity is at 150 percent. There are just 10,000 prisoners left to release or somehow remove from the prison system; however, 33,000 criminals had to be released or removed to get to that number. So where does this leave us? According to CBS Chicago News, many released criminals will find victims right away, and according to statistics, about 10,000 (nearly half) will return to prison within three years. Even on the county level due to a lack of funding and overcrowding, people who have committed crimes considered less severe or minor, are being tossed back out on the streets. This does not only endanger the community at large, but according to the statistics above, we���ll have to spend the time and money to arrest them again. This means that another victim could suffer. We aren���t saying the problem is simple, but releasing criminals, especially in communities as small as Red Bluff, puts hundreds at risk to become victims. CBS News in Chicago also reported that ���...the recidivism rate goes down when inmates participate in educational programs, job training, and placement services.��� In any case, releasing and rearresting the same people over and over again doesn���t solve the problem that our prisons are too crowded. It just wastes money and puts innocent people at risk. The solution lies with the causes of this problem. Why did our prison system get in this shape? Are our punishments too harsh and not effective enough? It���s not a straight forward answer, but the quick fix isn���t to justify one criminal���s actions over another to decide which one to release. A solution could be to pour more money into educational programs, job training programs, and placement services that help increase the likelihood of success once the prisoner is released. This punishment technique of rehabilitation helps ensure that they will not return to prison later on. However, an even better solution would be to put forth more money towards education for children today. Department of Corrections officials can use statistics that track kids and their reading levels, and determine the probability of them going to prison later on. ���Low literacy is the socioeconomic factor prison inmates have most in common.��� Health priorities skewed Red Bluff vacancies Time change squanders an hour of sleep School permits no medicine but clinics allow secret abortion E ach year, twice a year, daylight savings begins Sunday, March, tenth and ends Sunday, November third at two A.M. For some people these two days can be a waste of time and energy to have to set your clocks forward or backwards an hour. Not only is it hard to remember, it is also very inconvenient. In the spring, the clock advances forward and in the fall the clock moves backwards an hour. These events are known to cause problems. It is quite the inconvenience for me, especially as a high school student, to remember when to set the time. I don���t appreciate the one hour loss of sleep either, but the one thing I don���t mind is the extra hour in the fall to do the things I need to get done. Luckily, with modern technology your cell phones automatically adjust to daylight savings. Even if you have your alarm on your phone set to a specific hour, your alarm will go off the following morning of daylight savings, at the correct time. For most people, such as myself, it is a big help and a reminder to reset the clocks. So next fall around, don���t forget what most people do, that you need to set the clocks back one hour. Though the time change is inconvenient, it does have a benefit here and there, however in my opinion it wastes an important hour of every bodies day, twice a year. Sahvanna Rice Staff Writer T he school has lots of rules and laws that they have to follow. Students generally do not like all of these rules. A rule that makes a lot of people mad is that in order to get some simple medication for a headache or if they���re sore from sports they have to get a doctor to fill out a form. After the doctor fills out the form, next your parents have to fill out a form, as well. Everyone knows how irritating this can be when they already know their parents would be fine with them taking something to help with their headache. I don���t think students should have to go through so much just to take medication for something so simple. I have recently found out something shocking about what the nurse can and cannot do. In order for her to allow you to take medicine for a headache you have to fill out papers and see a doctor. But, if a student seventh to twelfth grade needed any kind of medical testing for pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases or an abortion then the nurse can excuse them from class and make an appointment for them without their parents knowing anything. Tymberlyn Bealer Staff Writer Students take relationships too seriously I t seems like all the time, relationships between students are taken way too seriously once you get into high school. Of course, this does not happen with everyone because there are those few couples who have been together for a year or two, but most of the time there are couples surrounded by drama and tons of problems. Then after two or three weeks they just break up anyway. What was the point of going out in the first place? There are other things such as being busy with different activities and just having fun! You can hang out with your friends, sports, or even being creative. If you have a relationship and you want to spend a lot of time with that person, then there is nothing wrong with that, but you can just have fun instead of getting super serious. Another thing is that being independent or single is okay. You do not need a boyfriend or girlfriend with you all the time. When some girls come to high school, all they can think about is getting a boyfriend. If your boyfriend or girlfriend are the only people or things that make you smile and have a good time, then that is a waste. Boys and girls alike, that have a romantic relationship with someone else, way over exaggerate the littlest things which causes unneeded stress. Life gets complicated enough without adding pointless relationships, drama, and stress to it. After you have been dating someone for a week, I am pretty sure you do not know if you love them or not. How could you? You haven���t even known each other long enough to actually see the other person���s personality THE BLUFFER Editorial Staff It seems very shocking and crazy that you need to fill out two forms in order to get medication and your parents and a doctor have to know about it. But, if a student of the same age who is pregnant needed to get an abortion all she has to do is go see the nurse about it and its completely confidential. This means that no one other than the girl and the nurse need to know about it. The girl who wants to get an abortions��� parents never have to know about a thing and won���t get a call home saying she���s not at school, because the nurse will excuse her from her classes. I���m not saying that these types of things should no longer be confidential. All I���m saying is that it seems strange for something as small and simple as taking medication is considered a big deal in the eyes of the rules. But, for something as huge and complicated as getting an abortion the school makes it so easy and secretive to do. Editor-In-Chief Editor-In-Chief Advertising Director Adviser Marissa Chase Natalie Almond Alisa Pelanconi News Editors Laurel Shoop Marissa Chase Laurel Shoop Staff Writers Cartoonist Viewpoint Editor Veronica Smith Mitch Fox Andrea Hveem Becca Blanchard Sarah Bartlett Claire Samay Karla Nowicki A & E Editors Sam Rodriguez Tymberlyn Bealer Connor Ross Rodrigo Sanchez Mark Criss Josiah Vasey Alexis Simpkins Ceighlee Fennel Features Editors Ashlan Brunello Aleczander X. B. Sims Hunter Latham Bailey Patchen Zachary Smith Aaron Lewis Sports Editors Sahvanna Rice Owen Ritter Egan Meagher Garrett Sandow Ryan Fisher Topics Editor Shelby Keeler Julia Liebert Editorial Policy: Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the district, staff, or student body. We welcome signed letters to the editor. Names may be withheld upon request. We also reserve the right to edit submission based on length and/or clarity. or anything. Some people obsess about their relationships up until the point where it is unhealthy. Also, people may get way too serious way too fast. It could also scare away your other half. Take your time when you are in a relationship. You should have fun and enjoy the other person���s company without getting super dramatic and serious. S ince living in this town my whole life, I have noticed an extreme amount of vacant or empty buildings in the area. What is the purpose of keeping them around? That is a question that not many people have the answer to. This includes me, and that is what I am writing this about. Recently, residents of Red Bluff have wondered why there is nothing being done with the buildings. The buildings may not have a use right now, but obviously they were built for a reason. Some purpose can come out of them before they crumble and fall apart. Now is the chance for people who want to move their business to a different location. Some of these locations where the vacant buildings stand, would be outstanding for business. Lots of customers would enjoy the scenery around them. A spot to just take a moment and relax. You get to see the little things that happen in everyday life from a different perspective. Most people don���t take the time to enjoy their life and what happens throughout it. They always take it for granted. Using these buildings will not only make a business function more efficiently, but it will increase employment and make more money in the end. Personally, I just want the buildings to be of use for something. I mean why should they still be standing if they are just going to sit there? It just doesn���t make sense to me at all. Buildings should be of use to help make businesses grow and make the economy better. Vacant buildings are not meant too just sit there. Ceighlee Fennel Aaron Lewis Staff Writer Staff Writer SPARTAN THUMBS Spring is here The spring weather is finally here. The weather changes too drastically It is hard to decide what to wear as it is cold in the morning, but hot in the afternoon. Spring break is near Spring break is getting closer to arriving. J.V baseball won The Spartans won three tournaments in a row. Daylight savings Everybody lost an hour of sleep. *These Thumbs came from Mrs. Dausse���s 4th period class.