Everybody is entitled to their opinion. I can’t disagree with that. But given that there was only a 20% turnout in the most recent voting opportunity, I think it is unfair to state that a majority of Allegheny County residents disagree with the use of solitary confinement as a form of punishment for prisoners who are incorrigible (“Editorial: A clear rejection of solitary confinement in Allegheny County Jail,” May 22, TribLIVE). What other options do they suggest? Please tell me. Maybe they could take away their library cards or send them to bed early?

I think it is safe to assume that those incarcerated are not there for going to church too much. Nor are they innocent members of society. They have shown an inability to follow societal rules, and many continue this trend in custody. So if this “majority” thinks reading them poetry or teaching them how to knit would work, by all means let’s have the “majority” of citizens volunteer to do it.

We have already tied the hands of corrections officers to the point where they are the ones being abused. They must endure verbal abuse, threat of and actual physical abuse, being spit on, and having urine and feces thrown at them. If those offenses don’t warrant a timeout in solitary, maybe the “majority” could have them home for Sunday dinner as their timeout.

Robert W. Smith

Monroeville

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