Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jan 2002
Source: Birmingham News (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Birmingham News
Contact:  http://www.al.com/bhamnews/bham.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

FIGHTING CRIME

Governor's Proposal Sounds Tough, But At What Price?

Not many people outside violent-felon circles mind when politicians start 
talking about getting tough on crime. Heck, a lot of us don't really even 
mind that this talk tends to flare up as elections draw nigh.

It is half-appealing to hear Gov. Don Siegelman propose legislation that 
would require repeat violent offenders to serve their entire sentences with 
no chance for parole. Under Siegelman's plan, even first-time violent 
offenders would have to serve 85 percent of their sentences.

And why not? They killed, injured or at least threatened their victims, and 
they should pay the price, right?

But the costs of get-tough crime measures aren't just borne by 
perpetrators. Alabama taxpayers foot the bill for the new prisons, the 
extended upkeep of inmates and the inevitable lawsuits filed when clogged 
jails reach a breaking point.

Just this past year, Prison Commissioner Mike Haley was found in contempt 
of court because 2,000 state inmates were backlogged in county jails. It 
was not a first. The truth is, Alabama prison officials have struggled for 
years to keep up with a growing demand for their space.

Much of the problem can be traced to get-tough crime measures that set 
mandatory sentences for habitual offenders. As of last year, 30 percent of 
Alabama's 26,000 inmates were habitual offenders, and more than half were 
convicted of drug, property or other nonviolent offenses.

Last October, this newspaper praised Siegelman for signing into law a 
measure that makes release possible for nonviolent lifers, including those 
serving life-without-parole sentences.

It only makes sense to reserve costly prison space for the most dangerous 
violent offenders. It also makes sense to ensure that those inmates serve 
an appropriate sentence.

But sentencing reform is a complex issue that should be tackled in a 
comprehensive fashion. Absent that, new mandatory sentences on violent 
offenders could prove to be another costly mistake if not for Siegelman, 
then for governors to come.

This state cannot afford more prisons it can't afford the prisons it has 
now. Short sighted "solutions" got us in this fix. Now, the state is in 
danger of repeating its past offenses in getting tough on crime.

If Siegelman succeeds, it will be taxpayers who pay the price.
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