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| SC prisons overcrowded with minor offenders |
| By PAGE IVEY , Associated Press Writer, heraldonline.com / Associated Press |
| Published: 02/03/2010 |
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COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina needs to reduce the number of people going to jail for minor offenses and let more people out on parole, a legislative panel reviewing the state's sentencing policies said in a report released Tuesday. Sentencing policies of the past 10 years have sent more people to prison for shorter periods for nonviolent crimes, making those offenders account for nearly half the state's 25,000 inmates, according to the report from the Sentencing Reform Commission. That costs money and reduces the number of beds available to house the most violent offenders. The commission chairman, state Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, said Tuesday he is optimistic the proposed law changes can be passed this year because the state can't afford its current system. Quantcast South Carolina spent almost $400 million on prisons operations in 2008, up from less than $65 million in 1983. According to the commission's report, South Carolina could save more than $300 million dollars over the next five years by not having to build new prison space if the recommendations are enacted. The report projected another $92 million could be saved in operating costs. "We're doing the things we can do with this budget crisis and at the same time continuing to keep South Carolina safe," Malloy said. "We're providing some alternatives for those nonviolent folks who are incarcerated." The panel's report also said the state returns too many parolees to jail for technical violations, such as drug or alcohol use. Read More. |
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