Criminal Negligence

Criminal Negligence is a science fiction short story by J. Francis McComas, likely written in the mid-20th century. Set in a dystopian future where Earth faces extinction due to self-replicating radioactive dust, the narrative follows Warden Halloran of a high-security prison as he confronts the moral dilemmas of evacuating select inmates to Mars. The story explores themes of leadership, responsibility, and societal treatment of criminals, raising profound questions about humanity and justice in a time of crisis.