This reform is such a huge prospect it boggles the mind.

Earlier in my life, I spent several years visiting prisoners weekly at a local state prison in North Carolina. These visits were in the context of Christian ministry with songs, scripture and conversation.

Such visitations are, I believe, an absolutely helpful starting point for any citizens who hope to enter the corrections system to help the inmates.

After reading your article here, Derecka, my first thought is: the corrections system, from the Courts onward into prisons and parole, needs to make a definitive distinction between violent crimes and other offenses.

Such a differentiation would be a good starting point to reform the system.

Punishment for non-violent crimes can--with compassionately vigilant administration-- be removed from the prison system.

This would free up space and funding in prisons for more constructive, more educational resources.

Non-violent offenders would still suffer some of the indignities that you describe.

But reform has to start somewhere. Work toward a system where non-violent offenders are free to seek for themselves a place in society and the infrastructure of work.