Pubdate: Fri, 02 Jan 2004
Source: Sanford Herald, The (NC)
Copyright: The Sanford Herald 2004
Contact:  http://www.sanfordherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1577

NEW PRISONS ARE NOT ENOUGH

Crime is a problem in North Carolina. If you don't believe it, consider the 
following information:

* The state is in the process of building three new prisons.

* Financing has been approved for three more prisons.

* It is estimated, by the N.C. Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, 
that there will be 44,094 inmates by 2013 - with prison capacity for 37,743.

"Last year, the commission revised its estimates upward because convictions 
for murder, robberies and drug trafficking rose by roughly 20 percent," the 
Associated Press reports. "The commission took the same tack this year 
because of a 19 percent jump in habitual-felon convictions - the so-called 
three strikes penalty - and a roughly 5 percent jump in drug trafficking 
convictions. ...

"... Next year, state legislators are expected to consider tougher 
penalties to combat domestic violence and a rising number of 
methamphetamine operations. But tougher penalties often lead to more 
inmates or longer sentences, and budget shortfalls make it harder to pay 
the additional cost of housing them."

So, it seems, more people are committing crimes ... more people are 
convicted and sent to jail ... and, yet, with the lack of space and the 
cost of housing prisoners some people are receiving early paroles.

As the AP story went on to say, "The New York Times reported last month 
that about half the states have reduced some sentences or made it easier 
for inmates to win parole to help balance their budgets this year."

Unfortunately, it seems like a no-win situation for everyone but the criminals.

It's no wonder that some criminals are willing to take chances after 
already having served jail time.

It's the taxpayers who are the victims of criminal activity. Not only might 
they suffer through the crime, then they must bear the burden of paying 
more tax money to build more prisons - or suffer the consequences and risk 
the chance of these offenders being released back into society before 
they're spent proper time paying for their crimes.

Anyone who believes there is no crime problem in our state had better think 
again.