We hear how drugs are a epidemic in the United States, and I see a lot of this in Rowan County. At the same time, I see the justice system and Rowan County doing little if nothing to help the people that are trying to turn their lives around.

In my son’s case, he had some charges on him four years ago. Since then he has turned his life around. But at the same time it is hard for people to find work after they have charges on their records. He completed all of his probation except paying all his fines. He found a job and was paying them, but when he went to court he had a probation officer that knew nothing about what he had completed — had never seen him — and had the judge to sentence him 30 days in jail.  No bail, no way to get out.

Doing that cost him the only job he could find.

I ask you, how is this helping people to get their lives turned around and back on track? The Rowan County court system should be ashamed, especially the department of probation, for getting someone terminated from his job. How do you expect him to pay these fines?

Let’s help these people and not kick them down just when they start getting their lives back together. Let’s not forget, it could be any of us.

— Wendell Linton

Kannapolis