Jon Venables

I know it's in England, not Australia, but this is a world wide issue. Why was Jon Venables face not able to be shown to anyone but the judge? I understood why they did that when he was first released from prison - I believe everyone has the right to a second chance. But that's it. If you blow that chance, goodbye, back to jail, never to be released. Jon Venables blew his chance. Child pornography is one of the most heinous crimes anyone can commit. It's right up there behind murder, rape and child molestation. If we're not going to throw them in jail and throw away the key, then anyone found guilty of this charge needs to have his or her face shown on every media outlet possible, worldwide. Their names should be immediately added to any sex offender register available. We need to protect our children.

This brings me to serial offenders of any crime. I believe there are jurisdictions where everyone has three strikes. Third strike, no matter how minor the charge, you're back in jail. I love it! As long as they stay in jail. How often does that happen though? Overcrowding is often cited as the main reason criminals are released early. Well, I don't know about other countries, but in Australia, there are people in jail for 'white' collar crimes - tax evasion, etc. Alan Bond and Glenn Wheatley come to mind. If jails are overcrowded, why are these people in there? They didn't physically hurt anyone. They may have defrauded the tax system or shareholders, but how is putting them in jail where they can't earn any money to pay it back, going to help anyone? Give them community service, preferably with the kind of people who were hurt by their actions so they can really see what they've done. Stop putting those like Glenn Wheatley in jail for two years, and letting idiots who drink drive or consistently speed, get suspended sentences, which means they're back on the road - the same roads I drive on. How is this fair? But that's another rant for another time ...