Something wrong with this picture

Dear Editor:
Many years ago kids played frozen tag. It was the one where if the IT tagged you, you had to stay in that spot until a free-roaming player touched you, whereupon you were free to run around again. The gane usually ended when the IT gave up.
Did you know our over-worked police play the same game? They work investigating and catching criminals. When the felon is brought to court, some defence lawyer whines to a bleeding-heart gullible judge who promptly ‘tags’ the crook with bail, and the admonition, “Report to the court for your trial.”
Strangely enough, for the next two years, the criminal can continue at will to rape, steal cars, deal drugs, and abuse society. Stranger still: the judge is surprised when the guy doesn’t show up!
Yes, it is frozen tag on a grand scale.
What affect has this inept justice system had upon society? Well, each night it is the good law-abiding citizens that lock themselves into ‘cells’ which resemble apartments, condos, and houses. Meanwhile, the criminals are free to roam the streets.
There is something definitely wrong with the picture.

– J. Graham Ducker
Oshawa, Ont.