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| Think long-term with cuts to prison |
| By CITIZEN-TIMES |
| Published: 03/06/2009 |
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Raleigh, NC - In a forest of shortfalls for North Carolina's budget, another mighty oak is looming into view: a shortfall in prison beds and in money to solve that problem. Here's the math: Depending on the security level, it can cost up to nearly $100 million for a new 1,000-cell facility. North Carolina is approaching the end of a prison-building boom, with six large facilities opened since 2003. Despite that, North Carolina's prison population is expected to be about 1,000 over the number that can be housed judiciously, and projections estimate that by 2014 the prison population could stand at 46,000 — close to 4,000 beyond projected capacity. Housing a state prisoner costs more than $27,000 a year. The rest of the equation: North Carolina is facing a budget shortfall of at least $2 billion. That math, obviously, does not add up. North Carolina will have to find what does. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Rep. Carolyn Justus, R-Henderson, inquired about having inmates double-bunked, but noted prison officials viewed that measure as a potential security risk. The paper reported Democratic Rep. Alice Bordsen and Sen. Joe Sam Queen, D-Haywood, proposed a hard look at programs cutting recidivism and probation revocations. Also in the mix: A call to revamp the structured sentence concept, which in some cases rules out parole. One potential pitfall that needs to be looked at very, very closely: Cutting programs designed to keep people who could, with a little nudging, be productive citizens instead of life-long wards of the corrections system. Those programs, ranging from juvenile justice programs on to the state's mental health system, have long been targets of budgetary neglect. Cuts there, or in family services and, yes, in education, often can translate to more spending later in the corrections system. One local example: Potentially on the chopping block is Camp Woodson in Buncombe County, which serves 100 troubled youths. The challenge for legislators is clear. In comments to Gary Robertson of The Associated Press, Rep. Alice Bordsen, D-Alamance, put it as plainly as it gets. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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