ustxtxb_obs_1982_03_12_50_00015-00000_000.pdf

We’ve got problems in housing those who are there in a way that rehabilitation will work. I think the people of this state want a good correctional penal system, one that produces a person who is better when he or she comes out of that system, not worse than when he or she went in. I think the opposite is true today. The violence in our prisons is deplorable, but it’s understandable with the conditions that exist. I think it’s going to take a combination of things. I don’t agree with those who say we don’t need any more prisons, that we should have a half-way house system so that we can get a bunch of those people out of prison. I think it’s going to take a combination of those things. I don’t thing the public is going to stand for releasing a bunch of these people overnight because we can’t house them. I thing we ought accommodate those who are there in a setting that is conducive to rehabilitation. And then work with them? Things like halfway houses, work-release programs? Yeah, sure. We have to do those things, but we’ve got to have them in an overall system that provides that kind of rehabilitation in the institution that gives them the skills and gives them the outlook that will allow them to meet their obligations when they get out, into a halfway house or work-release or whatever. So I think that whole subject needs a whole lot of attention. And our crime problem: that is a problem that is not just a rightwing, conservative concern. I think everybody’s concerned about it, but I sincerely believe the approach that’s been taken is a gimmicky approach. They’re always looking for new laws wiretapping, things like that. . . . I wanted to ask you about that specifically. Does the wiretap law come before the Sunset Commission in what, 1985? Well, it’s not before Sunset. It just expires. And I suspect that after, what? four years? yeah, it was a four-year bill. Ater four years of experience with it, I think everybody will see it hasn’t accomplished anything. It’s very expensive, and as I started to say, it and all these other things are eyewash. Would you also say that the triple prescription act, the one where the pharmacist or the doctor has to send a copy of the form to the Department of Public Safety, is gimmicky? Does it really attack the drug problem? I can’t honestly tell you. I’m not familiar with the specifics of that one. But what I’m saying is that if you put all of these things together, I don’t thing they’re going to make a major impact on crime. I think we’ve got to start doing a better job on our educational system. If you look at criminals who are in the penitentiary, a high percentage of them are uneducated. So all of these social considerations go into the crime prob Caucus, 474-1798; Travis Audubon Scty., 3rd Thu., 447-7155 or 477-6282; Travis Cty. Demo. Women, every Fri., 453-3243; Travis Cty. YD’s, 453-3796; Univ. Mobilization for Survival, wkly., 476-4503; UT YD’s, 452-8516; West Aus. Demos., 2nd Thu., 454-1291; Zilker Park Posse, 472-1053. HOUSTON ACLU, 524-5925; ACORN, 523-6989; Amns. for Demo. Action, 522-9544; Amnesty Intl., Group 23, 868-0707; Brotherhood of Viet. Vet., 728-4857; Cit3343; Concilio de Organizaciones Chicanos, P.O. Box 9, Houston 77001; Demo. Socialist Organizine Cmte., 921-6906; Ecumenical Peaceforce of Houston, 10723 Inwood Dr., 77042; Gay Political Caucus, 1st and 3rd Weds., 521-1000; Harris Cty. Concerned Women, 674-6798; Harris Cty. Demos., quarterly, 528-2057; Houston Area Women’s Center, 528-6798; Lesbian and Gay Demos. of Texas, 521-1000; Mxn.-Amn. Demos., 6944 Navigation, Houston 77011; Mockingbird Alliance, 7471837; NAACP, 1018 Clebourne, Houston 77001; North Harris Co. Demos., P.O. Box 90704, 77290; PASO, 6716 Fairfield, Houston 77023; Senate Dist. 15 Demo. Coalition, 862-8431; Sierra Club, 3rd Tues., 228-0037 or 522-1489; Tx. Abortion Rights of Black Demos., 674-0968; Tx. Demos., 667-6194; Tx. Fathers for Equal Rights, 960-0407; Toxic Substances Task Force, 1st Tue. & 3rd Wed., 2280037; UofH YD’s, 749-7347; Westside Demos., 464-2536. SAN ANTONIO Demos. for Action, Research & Education rsch. volunteers needed, 4th Wed., 674 0351; Fellowship of Reconciliation ACLU, 2246791; Amnesty Intl., U.S. Group 127, Julia Powell, 828-4141; Women’s Political Caucus, 2nd Tues., 655-3724; Civil Rights Litigation Center, 224-1061; Citizens Concerned About Nuclear Power, 1st & 3rd Weds., 655-0543; Communities Organized for 222-2367; Demos rsch. volunteers needed, 4th Wed., 674-0351; LatinAmerican Assistance, alternate Sats., 732-0960; Mxn.-Amn. Demos., 3rd Mon., Walter Martinez, 227-1341; NAACP, 4th Fri., 224-7636; Organizations United for East Side Development, last Tue., 824-4422; People for Peace, 2nd Th., 822-3089; Physicians for Social Responsibility, 1st Mon., Dr. Martin Batiere, 691-0375; Poor People’s Coalition for Human Services, 923-3037; Residents Orga nized for Better and Beautiful Environmental Demo. League, 1st Thu., 344-1497; S. A. Gay Alliance, last Wed., Metropolitan Commnty. Church, 102 S. Pine; San Antonians for Freedom of Choice, 733-3248; Sierra Club, 3rd Tue., 341-5990; Tx. Fathers for Equal Rights, every Thu., 337-6803; United Citizens Project Planning and Operating Corp. 224-4278. DALLAS ACLU, 651-7897; ACORN, 823-4580; Amn. Friends Service Cmte., 321-8643; American Indian Center, 826-8856; Amnesty Intl., U.S. Group 205, 361-4690; Armadillo Coalition, 1st Wed., 349-1970; AMIGOS, 339-9461; Audubon Society, 341-2534; Bois d’Arc Patriots, 827-2632; Bread for the World, Dist. 3, Joe Haag, 741-1991×298 & 495-1494; Brotherhood of Viet Vet., 224-9750; Brown Berets, 337-4135; Citizens’ Assn. for Sound Energy 1st Fri., 363-2979; Clean Air Coalition, 387-2785; Comanche Peak Life Force, Wed. wkly, 337-5885; Cmte. in Solidarity with the People in El Sal2nd Mon., 528-4233; E. Dal. Nghbrhood Assn., 3rd Mon., 827-1181; Frederick Douglass Voting Council, every Fri., 426-1867; Gray Panthers of Dallas-Fort Worth, 2nd Sat., 227-8332; Love Field Cit. Action Cmte., 526-8481; Low Income Housing Security Cmte., 748-5861; Nghborhood Info. & Action Service, 827-2632; Neighbors United for Quality Ed., 823-6713; North Texas Abortion Rights Action Mon., 742-6918; NOW 8971; No. Lake Col. Solar Club, 659-5254; Progressive Voters League;372-8168; Sierra Club, 2nd Wed., 369-5543; 1st Mon., 750-9736; S. Central Civic League, 375-5038; S.E. Dal. Nghbrhood Club, every 4th Sat., 421-7931; Sound 6960; Txns. for Handgun Control, 528-3985; Tx. Cmte. on Natural Resources, 352-8370; Tx. Tenants Union, 823-2733; 526-1853; Urban Affairs Center 372-6801; War Resisters League, 337-5885; W. Dal. Nghbrhood Group, 3rd Wed., 631-1586. FORT WORTH ACLU, 534-6883; ACORN, \(11 924-1401, board meets mthly; Armadillo Coalition, 927-0808; Bread for the World, 924-1440 \(Dist. Citizens for Education on Utility Regulation, 478-6372; Coalition of Labor Union Women, 469-1202. Dist. 10 Demos., 2nd Sat., 535-7803; First Friday, 1st Fri., 927-0808; F.W. Tenants’ Ccl., 923-5071; IMPACT, \(telephone chain, works largely through progressive Protestant Mental Health Assn., 2nd & 4th Tue., 335-5405; NOW, 3rd Th., 336-3943; Precinct Workers CI., 3rd Th., 429-2706; Senatorial Dist. 12 Demos., 2nd Sat. or 2nd Wed., 457-1560; Sierra Club, 3rd Wed., 923-9718; StuCty. Demo Women’s Club, 2nd Sat., 451-8133, 927-5169; Tx. Coalition of Black Demos \(F. W. Caucus, 1st Wed., 336-8700. AROUND TEXAS Alta Loma: Brotherhood of Viet. Vet., 925-6405. Amarillo: ACLU, 373-7200; Panhandle Environmental Awareness Cmte., 376-8903; Northwest Tx. Clergy and Laity Concerned, 2nd Tue., 373-8668. Bastrop: Central Tx. Lignite Watch, Bastrop Co., 321-5250. Beaumont: ACLU, 898-0743; Amnesty Intl, group 221, Karen Dweyer, 420 Longmeadow, Beaumont 77707. Brotherhood of Viet Vets, 7274873. Brownsville: ACLU, 541-4874. Bryan: ACLU, Box 4523, 77805; Brazos Society for Alternatives to Nuclear Energy, 822-1882. College Station: Kramer, Box D, 77841. Corpus Christi: American GI Forum, 241-8647; Coastal Bend Chapter Sierra Club, 3rd Tues., 883-0586; Gulf Coast Conservation Assoc., 991-9690; League of Women Voters, 8526443; LULAC, 882-8284; NAACP, 883-2931; NOW, 883-4469; Org. for the Preservation of an UnPol. Caucus, 854-1080. Denton: ACLU, 387-5126. El Paso: ACLU, 545-2990; Amnesty Int’l, Group 189, 584-4869. Gainesville: Organizing Cmte. for a Gainesville 76240. Lubbock: ACLU, 765-8393; Nat’l Lawyers Guild, 799-2714; NOW, 793-0582; South Plains Alternative Resources Coalition, 762-8950. Midland: Brotherhood of Viet. Vets., 684-3768. Nacogdoches: Alternative Views, 560-4363; Pineywoods Coalition, 218 W. Austin St., Nacogdoches. San Juan: ACLU, 787-8171. Seabrook: Galveston Bay Conservation & Preservation Assoc., 471-3119. Temple: Brotherhood of Viet Vets, 773-7987. Waco: ACLU, 755-3611. THE TEXAS OBSERVER 15