Pubdate: Fri, 24 Dec 2004
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2004 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Author: Peter Smith
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)
Note: does not publish LTEs from outside their circulation area

BISHOPS CRITICIZE U.S. PRISONS

Southern Group Stresses Rehab

Roman Catholic bishops in Southern states are stepping up their
criticism of the nation's prison system, saying the nation should
spend less on incarcerating people and more on crime prevention and
prisoner rehabilitation.

And prison officials need to do more to help inmates with mental
illnesses and drug addictions, according to an open letter written by
the Bishops' Advisory Committee of the Catholic Committee of the
South, based in Martin, Ky. The committee covers 11 states.

The bishops' letter, released in mid-December, is the fifth in a
series of such letters on the criminal-justice system, following ones
that have criticized such things as the privatization of prisons.

"We must stop the practice of putting so many people in prison," the
bishops wrote, according to excerpts of the letter, recently released
by the Catholic News Service. "...Our imprisonment rate is the highest
in the world — six to 12 times higher than rates in other
Western countries."

The letter called for more humane prison conditions and for national
standards guaranteeing fair pay for prisoners on work details, saying
that such wages could help reduce the need of inmates' families for
welfare assistance.

"While recognizing that people who harm others must be held
accountable for the hurt they have caused, we cannot give up on those
who have made mistakes and violated laws," the letter said. "We must
recognize the human dignity of all prisoners and remember that Jesus,
himself, was a prisoner."

The bishops also called for states to focus on crime prevention, drug
treatment and alternative sentences, particularly for nonviolent
offenders. They opposed "simplistic solutions" such as the "three
strikes and you're out" mandatory sentence for repeat offenders.

They called for the prevention of physical abuse of prisoners by other
inmates or guards, and cited the need for "a dramatic increase in the
treatment for mental illness" in the prison system.

In the previous four letters issued since 2002, the bishops have
criticized such things as the higher incarceration rates in Southern
states compared with the national average and have taken aim at the
growing trend toward prison privatization.

Privately run prisons have been controversial in Kentucky. State
officials have recommended imposing fines on one management company
for its handling of a riot at a Beattyville prison in September, and
Attorney General Greg Stumbo says the state cannot legally follow Gov.
Ernie Fletcher's plan to use private management for a prison under
construction in Elliott County.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Derek