Our prison system has been getting more attention and funding than our countries education system. I strongly believe that our government has the system wrong and education is not only more important than incarceration but it will prevent the numbers from being so high. This issue is something that has strong room for improvement on the state level. In Arizona we can see that our legislature took funding from higher education and have given more funding to the prison system. The idea of punishment and incarceration for crimes that could better be dealt with through community service or rehabilitation are more essential. In my opinion, not only will giving criminals the tools necessary to change help them, but it will help our society. Most likely these criminals have been hurt by the system at some point, or even let down by some school at one point. Instead of helping individuals to rehabilitate, the system wants them to return because it is a business strategy.

It is time that our government officials start to acknowledge that our education system is a more important investment. The statistics show that these decisions are not helping the economy and are not making the cities safer. The news has been recognizing these things for several years, and the budgets of state governments are reflecting these changes. As college students it is our responsibility to vote and make our voices heard in order to prevent these types of events from occurring. Those who are in the prison system may not have the opportunity to vote and effect change in our government but those of us who are free do have that ability, and need to take advantage of it.