Pubdate: Mon, 08 Dec 2003
Source: Birmingham News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2003 The Birmingham News
Contact:  http://al.com/birminghamnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45
Author: Marquelon Sigler

ENDING THE CRISIS IN STATE PRISONS:

When I read David Wilson's Nov. 23 Commentary article titled "Number of 
blacks in prison is a wake-up call," I was both saddened and appalled to 
learn that in just 20 years there has been more than a 500 percent increase 
in the number of black men behind bars, while only a 30 percent increase in 
the number going to college.

It was interesting to me how Wilson mentioned that the black prisoners 
doing work on his property were in prison for possessing the minimum amount 
of marijuana, because reading that made me think about an editorial Nov. 19 
about the need for more prison guards. One of the two things listed as 
driving prisons to this crisis point was a rapidly growing prison 
population, fueled by foolish, get-tough-on-crime laws.

I wonder how many points from a Tim Roche Commentary article about the 
female prisoner population in Alabama (also on Nov. 23) could be applied to 
the thousands of black men in prison.

I agree with what he was saying about corrections officials needing to 
develop solid release plans for inmates, consisting of housing, substance 
abuse counseling, job placement assistance, mental health service and 
necessary support.

Of course, this is Alabama, where education funding has been severely cut, 
the prisons are dangerously understaffed and the jails are run more cheaply 
than neighboring states.

Marquelon Sigler

Wenonah
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