| Submit your comments on this article |
| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| States may free inmates to save millions |
| 2008-04-04 |
| PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Lawmakers from California to Kentucky are trying to save money with a drastic and potentially dangerous budget-cutting proposal: releasing tens of thousands of convicts from prison, including drug addicts, thieves and even violent criminals. Officials acknowledge that the idea carries risks, but they say they have no choice because of huge budget gaps brought on by the slumping economy. "If we don't find a way to better manage the population at the state prison, we will be forced to spend money to expand the state's prison system — money we don't have," said Jeff Neal, a spokesman for Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri. At least eight states are considering freeing inmates or sending some convicts to rehabilitation programs instead of prison, according to an Associated Press analysis of legislative proposals. If adopted, the early release programs could save an estimated $450 million in California and Kentucky alone. |
| Posted by:Delphi |
| #18 I like Arpaio's concept on this. I agree w/you SPOD as well. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2008-04-04 22:55 |
| #17 I'll believe it when I see it. OTOH, the images and premises of THE DIRTY DOZEN, THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE, + UNIVERSAL SOLDIER, etc. is tantalizing, not to mention also took place in World-Ancient Military History. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-04-04 21:35 |
| #16 The buzzword is "Cruel and Unusual Punishment." Notice the AND word. So if it is cruel and not unusal, or it is not cruel and Unusual, it's ok. So get out your punishment tools and sintax reference and start punishing those criminals so they will never go back. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-04-04 21:34 |
| #15 Tipover you can't hold a job or be in the service if you can't pass a drug test, this was not the reality in 1970. All the war on drug does is keep cops, the justice system and prison system busy and keep eroding your civil rights. There are better ways to fight this problem than pissing away billions and billions of dollars and human lives. We need fewer people locked up and working in prisons. Work camps seem to be an idea that can and does work. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2008-04-04 21:31 |
| #14 Prison incarceration for most offendors is an idea way past it's use by date. We need new ways of punishment like home incarceration, which not only cost less, but more importantly allow offenders to be economically productive while they serve their sentence. Properly structured the phrase 'paying for their crimes' could be made literally true. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2008-04-04 19:49 |
| #13 The folks that say to give up on the war on drugs tend to be the folks that said FARC is just a local revolutionary group and Columbia should just surrender. There are not many involved in drugs, either seller or user, that have their head screwed on tight. I saw personally what the military was like in the late '70s with the pot smokers and druggies. I never will condone that as a sane, accepted way of life. You think the "war on drugs" is expensive, try life without it. The dead, dying, brain fried consequences will make Iraq in 2006 look like child's play. |
| Posted by: tipover 2008-04-04 19:07 |
| #12 Get rid of the "war on drugs" for something more sane and you can save billions. This isn't BS it's a fact. We have way to many people locked up in prison for mental health problems, do away with that as well. The Prison industrial complex is a reality and we need to get it under control. Think about it. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2008-04-04 17:15 |
| #11 incarcerated convicted illegal aliens make up 29 percent of federal, state and local prisons at a cost of more than $1.6 billion annually. ICE has been increasingly effective at finding and tracking those, so that they're deported as soon as they finish their sentences. The problem is the numbers in for serious crimes and long sentences. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-04-04 17:13 |
| #10 all part of a long term plot to justify raising taxes for more prisons: let the bastards out and after enough time passes whereby the crime rate soars and the surviving population hollers loud enough, the politicians will 'suggest' that in order to restore law and order they need more bucks to fund the increased prison requirements. and this after more than one instance of a homeowner dispatching some miscreant with a 12 gauge..... |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2008-04-04 17:12 |
| #9 lol. the party started early this week. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-04-04 16:31 |
| #8 I say any legislator who wants early release of inmates can substitute for the inmate he/she wants early release for. Volunteers? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-04-04 16:17 |
| #7 What say we start with the non-violent druggies, hmmmm? Just for a change, let's leave the murderers and rapists in the pokey. |
| Posted by: Chief Running Gag 2008-04-04 16:13 |
| #6 return to branding What have you got against generics, NS? |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-04-04 15:15 |
| #5 According to the U.S. Center for Immigration Studies (www.cis.org), incarcerated convicted illegal aliens make up 29 percent of federal, state and local prisons at a cost of more than $1.6 billion annually. I'm just sayin... |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2008-04-04 15:01 |
| #4 End the War on Drugs and return to branding and the jails will be emptier than a library on Saturday night. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-04-04 14:36 |
| #3 I think a lot of those convicted of pot related crimes could be released with minimal threat to society (assuming other crimes weren't on their jacket). I would also think that a few roadwork gangs (volunteer and we'll cut your sentence a tad) might help fix up some of the roads and paint over some of the graffitti. I would also think that in maximum security they should pretty much put everyone in solitary so they don't have to be guarded as much and can't kill and rape each other, and break up the gangs. This would eliminate the need for many guards. I know I'd rather be in solitary than general population. A program so that in your last year you do the laundry or other job program to learn a skill and reacclimate you somewhat might also be helpful. Heck, the states could hire prisoners to do some custodial jobs and help acclimate them into civilian life (and watch them) if they really cared and thought long term. *Oh, and along with roadwork the work gangs could pick crops and build long border walls, if you know what I mean. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-04-04 14:28 |
| #2 A plan in Mississippi would offer early parole for people convicted of selling marijuana or prescription drugs. New Jersey, South Carolina and Vermont are considering funneling drug-addicted offenders into treatment, which is cheaper than prison. That seems like a solid idea. |
| Posted by: Woodrow Slusorong7967 2008-04-04 13:49 |
| #1 Idiocy. On one hand, Arpaio tent cities out in the boondocks are very cheap to build and operate, and prisoners there can be set to improve rural areas. Importantly, this is not a punishment, but a reward, fresh air and sunshine. Even international law is clear that it is neither cruel or unusual punishment. Not only can it half the brick prison population, which greatly improves conditions for prisoners and guards. The troublemakers, the sick, and those with family or who need to appear in court remain in the brick prisons. As a practical matter, prisoners can improve infrastructure on Indian Reservations, they can reforest, care for overflow animals from animal shelters, even improve marginal land to make it suitable for agriculture and grow their own food. Releasing them early is just a dumb idea. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-04-04 13:28 |