Dear Editor,
It is disheartening to hear old, tried and failed policies coming back. As a person who has watched the crime debate for more than 40 years in Vermont, and been part of analyzing the data about what works, Gov. Scott proposing harsher punishment for young people is the wrong approach.
The data on which research is based show that criminal punishment only puts people in expensive jails and does nothing to change criminal behavior. We have seen that providing housing, social supports and legal advocacy, and treating people with respect and dignity is effective medicine for community safety.
We should look to Norway for an effective approach to crime where young people get the support to change their projections. Let us apply what works, not what has proven to only serve the media, not the people.
Trine Bech
Shelburne
Read the story on VTDigger here: Trine Bech: Scott’s proposed legislation for harsher punishment of young people.