王迈迈英语

Compound Dictation

I'm interested in the criminal justice system of our country. It seems to me that something has to be done if we are to survive as a country. I certainly don't know what the answers to our problems are. Things certainly get complicated in a hurry when you get into them. But I wonder if something couldn't be done to deal with some of these problems.

One thing I'm concerned about is our practice of putting offenders in jail who haven't harmed anyone. Why not work out some system whereby they can pay back the debts they owe society instead of incurring another debt by going to prison, and of course, coming under the influence of hardened criminals? I'm also concerned about the short prison sentences people are serving for serious crimes. Of course, one alternative to this is to restore capital punishment, but I'm not sure I would be for that. I'm not sure it's right to take an eye for eye.

The alternative to capital punishment is longer sentences, but they would certainly cost

the tax payers much money.

I also think we must do something about the insanity plea. In my opinion, any one who takes another person's life intentionally is insane. However, that does not mean that the person isn't guilty of the crime, or that he shouldn't pay society the debt he owes.

It's sad, of course, that a person may have to spend the rest of his life, or a large part of it, in prison for acts that he committed while not in full control of his mind.