I am opposed to the Death Penality, Life without parole, three strikes and other draconian law and order measures. I am also for legalization of all drugs though i do think some like meth and crack are very harmful and production and distribution of those substances should be surpressed without the current ''drug war''tactics .
But ''bring all the sisters home '' ? I don't think so . I agree that many are in because of economic neccessity or the above mentioned drug war or both ! They should be freed,
But let's be real. Some are genuinly a danger to society , any society.
For example recently a woman was given 25 to life for smothering her baby ''because he wouldn't stop crying '' ! Now in a just society that person would instead be confined to a humane , effective mental heath facility instead of a place like Chowchilla.If treatment had a real effect maybe released after a few years not life behind bars , But does anyone think such a awful crime should have no consequences ?
The Left will continue to have only limited impact on the working class as long as we take a stance that all prisoners are Political prisoners . They aren't .

Under the Obama administration not one Wall St. executive has gone to jail for their participation in the bail out fraud under Bush. Not one! But we're supposed to "be realistic," and overlook the political nature of the fact that the individuals in Chowchilla are poor people, and instead keep to the prescribed script with acknowledgement that "[s]ome are genuinely a danger to society."