I was happy, but somewhat amazed, to hear Governor Riley defend the state's responsibility toward prisoners yesterday:
"I'm disappointed the budget they passed makes funding for what many would call 'pork projects' a higher priority than funding for essential government responsibilities like keeping prisoners locked up"
...but the few million legislators diverted from a proposed Corrections budget increase to instead fund various festivals in their districts won't really make much of a difference. Alabama taxpayers will spend $366 million for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 to lock inmates up. That's about $4 million less than Riley wanted to spend. Alabama already spends less per-prisoner than any state in the Union. The prisons hold twice the number of inmates they were built for. Alabama Government has been so cheap with corrections that the Feds have taken control of the entire system before, and it could happen again. The situation is so bad that prison guards have filed briefs in support of inmates who filed suit recently because of the conditions. If Mr. Riley really believes what he says, he should support raising sufficient revenue to replace the state's oldest prisons with larger facilities to handle the crowds. But the last time Mr. Riley took that route, supported raising taxes to pay for prisons and the rest of state government, voters said no and Riley barely escaped with is job. The only other solution is to lock up fewer people. To truly get out in front of sentencing reform and stop locking up people for minor drug offenses. (Instead, every time the Legislature meets they create new felony crimes, adding to the prison population). But neither raising taxes nor arresting fewer people is a very attractive option for someone who wants to win an Alabama popularity contest on election day.
4 comments:
At one time I took a very narrow, hard-line approach to prisons. Then, I came to my senses.
I learned that there is NO "Department of Punishments" in any state in our union.
I understood that those whom have been adjudicated guilty have rights guaranteed to them by our U.S. Constitution, including our state constitution.
We can't beat and whip prisoners! (Though we once did.) We can't starve them. (Though we once did.) We can't allow them to suffer thirst. (Though we once did.) Neither can we deny them medical treatment. (Though we most certainly also once did.)
In short, we cannot humanize ourselves by dehumanizing another human being.
Departments of Corrections are appropriately named. It is the state's responsibility not only to punish by segregating from the public a convicted offender, but it the state's responsibility to CORRECT that man or woman, to enable them to return to society and become a productive member of the same.
Perhaps some may recall the phrase "paid my debt to society." It's a phrase we don't hear often. Yet it's a phrase that we need to resurrect in the popular vernacular, because its implications hold tremendous opportunities for us all.
No doubt, our and other states' penal systems are bursting at the seams. For example, California's penal system was recently under Federal receivership because of the poor quality of health care the inmates received, or rather, did NOT receive. And, as you point out Tim, Alabama's penal system has also been under Federal receivership for other, similar problems.
I am agreement with you that non-violent offenders need to be placed in halfway houses, work release programs and other such programs to allow them to repay fiscal debt as well as do something else other than rot in a cell. They need to be productive.
Productivity is one reason I am vehemently opposed to the ADOC selling what they describe as "surplus" land.
In relatively nearby Limestone Correctional Facility (LCF), I understand they are overcrowded. Yet I also recall in years past seeing prisoners working the fields, producing food, ostensibly for their own consumption. I've not seen that in quite some time.
A man (and woman) should work. They should produce something other than criminal material. They should learn to read, to write to communicate, to be civil, to be productive, to give back, rather than take.
THAT, is the role of all corrections. And, to the extent we do not, we fail ourselves.
However, I am under no misguided notion that there are those of criminal persuasion whom are incorrigible, and that society's best interests would be served by keeping such offenders permanently incarcerated with no chance for parole. Those include child molesters, and others, the nature of whose crimes are so reprehensible, that there is little evidence for their correction. Those public menaces and dangers to civil society should never again taste freedom.
Well said, Kevin and Tim.
If the lands are "surplus," why were they purchased in the first place?
"Barely escaped with job"??
He was overwhelmingly re-elected.
~~The only other solution is to lock up fewer people. To truly get out in front of sentencing reform and stop locking up people for minor drug offenses. (Instead, every time the Legislature meets they create new felony crimes, adding to the prison population).~~
AMEN Tim Lennox!!! AMEN!!!
This year it was the continuation of arresting, prosecuting and jailing sick people and the effort to outlaw salvia, which most people have never heard of, and apply the same punishment inflicted upon marijuana consumers.
Oh, have you see Rep. Alvin Holmes claim that a State House Drug Dealer is out to get him?
Too Rich!!
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