Pubdate: Tue, 25 Apr 2000
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2000 The Clarion-Ledger
Address: P.O. Box 40 Jackson, MS 39205-0400
Fax: (601) 961-7211
Feedback: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html
Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/

PRISONS - CROWDING PROBLEM DEMANDS SOLUTION

Only two weeks remain until the 2000 Legislature is history, and one of 
this session's major items remains unresolved: Mississippi's overcrowded 
prison system.

As with most legislation that goes unresolved until the last part of a 
session, whatever decision is made most likely will come behind closed doors.

A conference committee of senators and representatives will attempt to 
produce a compromise for lawmakers of each chamber to consider.

Based on the bills passed by each chamber (Senate Bill 2800 and House Bill 
55), the will of the Legislature regarding overcrowding seems to be that 
inmates should "earn" early release one way or another.

That's a valid concept and should be incorporated. But it won't solve the 
prisoner influx on the Corrections Department by the 1995 Legislature's 
"Truth in Sentencing" law that requires an inmate to serve 85 percent of a 
sentence.

As long as ever more prisoners are pumped into the pipeline to Parchman, it 
matters very little if a handful of inmates here and a handful there gets 
early release.

That "85 percent rule" was adopted to meet federal requirements. But 
lawmakers went too far, imposing the rule on all crimes, not just serious ones.

As a result, the Department of Corrections' budget has grown from about $80 
million to $245 million in six years, with the inmate population zooming 
from about 5,000 to about 17,000 - and growing. Mississippi can't build 
prisons fast enough.

To stem the tide, alternate sentencing - at the front end of the 
corrections system - must be enacted; more drug courts and drug treatment 
must be included. Alternate sentencing will take planning and money (though 
not nearly as much as building more prisons and housing more inmates).

Attorney General Mike Moore has offered to hold a crime summit this summer 
to craft long-range solutions. It may be too much to expect long-term, 
wide-ranging solutions at this late date in the legislative session.

But it can't be stressed enough that time is running out, both in this 
session and in the state's ability to deal with the overflow of state 
inmates into county jails.

To meet the crisis, lawmakers must approve a process of early release of 
some prisoners now and agree to long-range sentencing options developed by 
Moore in coming months.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D