Justice system is in need of repair

Submitted, letter to the editor
Published: December 3, 2008

Justice in our justice system? Don’t think so!

I read with interest in your paper on Nov. 8, about a lady charged with the embezzlement of $16,000 from a local business (“Woman guilty of embezzlement”). That’s bad, no doubt. She received 22½ years in prison!

I also read that it was her second offense. That’s bad also, however, no person’s life was ever endangered. Probably, the money could have been paid back by family and friends or some kind of payment plan could have been worked out. Apparently, that was never looked at by our justice system.

Then, on Nov. 11, I read with just as much interest (more, really) about the gunman in Waynesboro who shot at a bank, a van and even into an occupied dwelling (“Woodson sentenced to two years in prison”). Someone could have been killed! “Don’t worry,” our justice system says, “it was his first offense and he was drunk.” Shucks, that explains it all, right? He only received two years! I’m shaking my head as I write this; I can’t believe it!

I watch television broadcasts on forensic files, FBI files and cold case files on television and I see, every day, where heinous murderers get 25 years.

As always, our justice system, as well as the government, needs an overhaul.

If we in America have the best judicial system in the world, God help the rest of the world!

Gary P. McClung
Raphine