The Incredible Access Otis Had

I've been thinking about the incredible access Otis has in the Mayberry jail.

He could show up at night, let himself in, sleep it off, reach out, get the key, and let himself out.

Making me wonder, at this point why worry about locking the cell? Since it was an open door policy anyway, why not leave the door open?

That's the way we need to run the criminal justice system in the rest of the country. It's more or less the honor system. If you think you've been bad, come on in. Then if you think you're rehabilitated -- who would know better than you yourself? -- just pack up your stuff and go home.

But what would we do with violent offenders, the hardened criminals? We'd have to ask them, looking them right straight in the eye, "Are you absolutely sure you're rehabilitated? Cross your heart?"