Pubdate: Wed, 21 May 2003
Source: Post-Crescent, The (Appleton,  WI)
Copyright: 2003 The Post-Crescent
Contact:  http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1443
Author: Sandi Moore
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT FOR TAXPAYERS

I must respond to the recent article in The Post-Crescent headlined, 
"Air-conditioned cells could cost $700,000." It takes a lot to get me angry 
and most people who know me would tell you that I root for the underdog, 
but I was furious when I read the article.

We are laying off teachers and other staff in our K-12 schools, 
universities and technical colleges. Yet a lawsuit filed by prisoners at 
the former "Supermax" prison in Boscobel complaining of "cruel and unusual 
punishment" and settled by ex-Gov. Scott McCallum will cost taxpayers 
$700,000 so the cells of these hard-nosed criminals will not exceed 84 
degrees in a heat wave. Is 85 degrees "cruel and unusual" punishment for 
the "bad boys" that this prison was built to hold? Is it too warm for 
killers, rapists, drug dealers and repeat offenders? Well, excuuuuuuse me.

What about low-income residents of apartment complexes that are not 
air-conditioned? Senior citizens living on fixed budgets who cannot afford 
medications let alone air conditioning? And many K-12 students who have the 
"cruel and unusual" fate of attending classes in a schoolhouse that is not 
air-conditioned?

The settlement also demanded $3.4 million to retrofit the prison with 
indoor and outdoor recreational facilities. There is merit in having some 
exercise equipment, certainly, but $3.4 million worth? They do not need 
"Gold's Gym Extraordinaire" at Boscobel. And if it gets too warm, perhaps 
85 degrees, will the inmates refuse to use this expensive equipment?

Seems to me that, in this situation, we taxpayers are the ones experiencing 
"cruel and unusual punishment," thanks to our former governor.

Sandi Moore, Town of Menasha
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