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| Juvenile sentences in Georgia may get shorter to save money |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 01/12/2004 |
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Many underage criminals would spend less time in juvenile jails under a money-saving measure pitched to legislators last Monday. The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice would like to reduce sentences for low-level offenders from 90 days to 60 days, which would reduce the number of kids in any given youth detention center and allow some facilities to be closed. The plan will work only if juvenile court judges agree to the lighter sentences, and the shorter terms wouldn't affect violent offenders, said interim Juvenile Justice Director Greg Maxey. Maxey was trying to persuade legislators to approve the plan in budget hearings that began last Monday. All state agencies are laying out their plans to save money, as smaller-than-anticipated tax revenues require budget cuts. The lighter sentences would allow the Juvenile Justice Department to close three Youth Detention Centers, in Clarke, Mitchell and Emmanuel counties. Additional centers in Milledgeville and Augusta would be downsized, saving more money. The closures and down-sizings would cost more than 600 jobs, although some of those camps are privately run so the workers are not state employees. The savings from closing some camps and cutting back others could be at least $9 million the first year. Maxey said the shorter sentences wouldn't have much affect on society or the offenders, arguing that studies show little difference between a 60-day term or a 90-day term. And only 2,300 of the system's 22,000 juveniles are housed in the prison-like centers or Youth Development Campuses. Maxey conceded that some judges will resist the shorter sentences. "We haven't totally convinced all the judges that short-term incarceration is not an effective way to change behavior," Maxey said. The proposal must still be approved by the full Legislature, which returns to session Monday. |
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