Letter: Observations from 42 years in criminal justice

I submit my letter to the editor, as Tribune writer George Pyle encouraged us to do so in his column a few weeks ago. He suggested that many letters lacked the professional background to sustain the stated opinions. Last month I retired after working in the Utah criminal justice system for 42 years, so I ask for support in my viewpoint.

I submit that 90 percent of those people I have worked with are good and noble public servants, adhering to the sworn duty to uphold their duties. I have seen the 10 percenters, however, and that is my concern. They have worked in all facets of the justice system. In the l 960's we heard from the flower child that we should never trust the government. I don't support that general declaration, but as a former government worker, I suggest we obtain more oversight in how the taxpayer dollar is used and abused.

Although I support more timely executions when deemed legal, I think we direct way too many people to prison and sometimes for the wrong reason, but neither do we give victims their proper dues.

Kent Jones

South Jordan