In Maryland, Letting Dangerous Criminals Out Early

On the heels of Gov. Martin O'Malley's failed attempt to repeal the death penalty in Maryland, we have this tragic story: A violent offender who served only half his sentence murdered a Montgomery County woman last year ["Md. May Restrict Prison Credits," Metro, March 16].

In Mr. O'Malley's push to repeal the death penalty, it was argued that the cost of executing death row inmates is much higher than that of sentencing them to life in prison. And now we are instructed by supporters of prison credits that keeping murdering thugs in jail to serve out their sentences is so expensive that we need to allow them to get out sooner for good behavior. The public defender's office informs us that "the purpose of incarceration is not to incapacitate persons by removing them from society for as long as possible."

I guess the backers of "good behavior" credits would prefer that innocent people, like Lindsay Harvey, rather than the career thug who was released early, be incapacitated.

EMMETT LAUER

Silver Spring