|
|
| OpEd: Regional jail isn't silver bullet |
| By Wausau Daily Herald |
| Published: 11/07/2008 |
|
WISCONSIN - Marathon County officials took the next step toward resolving our jail crowding crisis this week by opening conversations about sharing a regional jail with Portage County. We're happy the conversation has begun. But we also wonder about the priorities that are driving the discussion. For a long time now, Wisconsin has pursued a "get tough on crime" mentality. Our lawmakers changed the law to subject 17-year-olds to adult court and penalties. We passed minimum mandatory sentencing laws and eliminated parole, robbing judges and prison officials of their discretion and expertise. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
I read with interest the account of two jurisdictions combining prison resources to meet the challenge of punishing criminals for their crimes. The local get-tough policy is laudable especially at street level since this is the most visible to the public who generally suffer from lower level criminals. This visibility creates a visible example for the novice criminal before criminal practices and habits become entrenched. However, as the editorial is quick to point out, there is a costly outcome to all of this, that is, jail space for prisoners. I do not know if young criminals should be tried as adults unless there has been an extraordinary conviction for depraved murder of a capital nature. Based on my own experiences, within the proper environment, young criminals can be rescued from themselves and turned into productive individuals for life. So before we start throwing dollars at building big jails, let's see if the life path for troubled youth offers appropriate remediation before we charge head on into that most lasting of interventions: jail. This may cost society less in the long run on many levels. Herein judges must be tough the first time around for criminal offenders as a deterrent for future escalating criminal activity. This translates into rigid, tough, short-term sentences. Progressive justice should be saved for those criminals who don't get it about tough justice the first time around. Meanwhile reentry back into society for the now former criminal should be deliberate and purposeful. Society endures enough demands on it from all directions without having to care for someone who was in jail and is reaping the stigma of being non-productive. The young former criminal must demonstrate that he/she is ready to work and contribute to the society that had to carry him/her during time in prison. So "get tough policies" beware! Be tough, but be smart about its application. There could be unintended consequences, which is a nice way to say we all made a costly mistake. John J. Murphy, Jr. Captain - NYC Department of Correction