CHARLES COLSON writes about the threat of Islamofascist recruitment in prisons. He’s right that it’s an issue, but his solution — which seems basically that Christianity is better — doesn’t fly.

First, it’s got First Amendment problems. Under current Supreme Court law you could probably get rid of all prison ministries if you chose, but you can’t favor one religion over another. Second, his view of Christianity in prison is a bit rosy-eyed: Christian Identity types have been recruiting there for years.

Finally, one way to reduce this threat would be to stop putting people in prison for short, revolving-door sentences. If people aren’t going to get out of prison until they’re 70, I don’t care who recruits ’em. And if they’re not in prison at all, they’re not subject to prison recruiting.

What has produced such a large and vulnerable population for Islamists to exploit is the locking up of lots of people for nonviolent drug crimes. Get rid of them, and keep the people guilty of real crimes like rape, robbery and murder in there for a long time, and you’ll solve this problem. And a lot of others. And without violating the First Amendment.