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01/10/2003: "US MS: OPED: How Many (Ex-)Prisoners Is A Recession Worth?"

Headline Courtesy of DrugNews Digest, MAP Inc.
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Neal Peirce

HOW MANY ( EX- )PRISONERS IS A RECESSION WORTH?

Utah considers freeing 400 convicted felons by March 1. California inches toward early release of nonviolent and elderly prisoners. States begin to lay off prison guards. Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton endures political brickbats for providing early release to 567 nonviolent prison inmates.

Everywhere, the reason is clear. States must balance their budgets. They face the worst fiscal crises of a half-century or more. It costs $20,000 to $25,000 a year just to hold one prisoner. So after three decades of tough "law and order" penal policy, the temptation is growing to change course and release some of the 2 million prisoners incarcerated in the United States.

But will the criminal justice establishment - and the media - allow us a clear-headed debate about the choices states face?

I'm not hopeful. The knee-jerk reaction is to suggest we'll have soaring crime rates soon after the first criminal gets early release. An example: Ogden, Utah, Police Lt. Dave Tarran recently told The Deseret News that early releases would constitute "our worst possible nightmare."

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Note: How much does the Drug War cost? Check out the Drug War Clock to find out.

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