|
|
| OpEd in today's Houston Chronicle - High Cost of Corrections |
| By Marc Levin, director of the Center for Effective Justice |
| Published: 02/25/2009 |
|
State Should Take a Look at High Cost of Corrections As state agencies are asked to prune 2.5 percent of their budgets, lawmakers must take a hard look at Texas’ corrections budget during this legislative session. Our state’s prison population has grown from 50,000 in 1990 to more than 157,000 today, while our incarceration rate is the nation’s second highest. Fortunately, this means there are plenty of opportunities for savings. First, Texas incarcerates 20,000 offenders for drug possession. Sixty percent of them have not been convicted of another felony. These nonviolent offenders who simply have a substance abuse problem could be redirected into treatment at a significant savings to taxpayers. Legislation to divert from prison those whose only offense is possessing less than four grams of a controlled substance is estimated by the Legislative Budget Board to save $500 million over five years. Offenders would be required to pay for their own treatment, although this estimate assumes the state would wind up paying half of the treatment costs. Judges could refer offenders for residential or outpatient treatment at any licensed provider, including faith-based providers. Under this legislation, judges could also still order to prison any offenders who they determine would pose a threat to public safety or not benefit from treatment. Even without any finding, judges could sentence offenders to confinement at intermediate sanctions facilities and community corrections facilities. Each of these lockups provides shorter-term confinement, usually about 90 days, resulting in savings to taxpayers. In 2007, lawmakers increased funding for these alternatives to prison. The expansion of these facilities and other changes were successful in avoiding the projected need for 17,000 new prison beds, which would have cost $1 billion to build and operate over five years. Now, however, the state needs to scale back on existing prisons to ensure a balanced budget. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Waco has developed a reputation for a rocket-docket in patent litigation. It’s an important choice to find the right lawyer in Waco for your important patent litigation matter. When people in the know make the hire, they hire Dunnam & Dunnam. If you are looking for a What does a personal injury lawyer do? , then Dunnam & Dunnam is the right choice. For nearly 100 years, people in Waco have hired the firm when the results matter at Dunnam & Dunnam are among the most respected in the Central Texas area. They have the experience in trials and mediations to guide your case in the right way. There are few important decisions at the outset of the case that can turn the tide in your favor. Choosing the right lawyer is one of them.