Two Maine court cases have caused me to write about the out-of-control court system.

A man assaults a woman, leaving her with lifelong injuries, and he will walk out of jail after 30 days.

Fast and fair trial? It took seven months to go to court when the state had evidence to convict at the beginning. And, also an affront to society, a plea bargain was involved.

Another defendant, with a machete, assaults two people, one a minor, and leaves them with lifelong injuries. He receives two life sentences.

I would say there is a great difference in these sentences.

In both cases, the men are not required by law to have any financial responsibility for their actions, which caused injuries to their victims. It is past due time the state look and pass a victims’ rights law.

Another court case which I read about was a man who just appeared in court for his 184th time for various reasons. He should have been taken off the streets years ago. No wonder the Maine court system is overloaded — repeat defendants, the practice of continuance and having a second court appearance for sentencing.

All types of crimes will be alive and well in Maine as long as our court system operates the way it does.

It is time for mandatory sentencing in Maine.

Raymond Chadwick, Farmington