Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 Source: State, The (SC) Copyright: 2004 The State Contact: http://www.thestate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/426 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) S.C. SHOULD TAKE BOLD STEP TO REDUCE CROWDING AT PRISONS A proposal to reduce the number of inmates flowing into our state's prisons deserves serious consideration. We have urged lawmakers either to provide the money needed to deal with the almost 1,000 additional offenders who crowd our prisons each year or reduce the prison population. A bill prefiled by House Speaker David Wilkins and others would create two programs aimed at reducing prison population by monitoring nonviolent offenders out in the community instead. South Carolina's lock-'em mentality filled our prisons. However, lawmakers failed to provide enough money to keep these inmates locked away safely and securely. There are more than 24,000 inmates in our prisons - 2,500 more than three years ago. Meanwhile, the agency's budget has wilted. It ran a $21 million deficit last fiscal year and has lost more than $70 million in funding over the past four years. The number of officers guarding the burgeoning prison population dropped from 7,000 to 5,500 over three years. That is a recipe for disaster. Although prison officials say the reduced staff did not play a role in a disturbance last year at Lee Correctional Institution in which two guards were taken hostage, such incidents are more likely to occur with fewer guards on the job. Even if the new programs are effective, they will not resolve Corrections' budget woes. Lawmakers still must provide adequate funding to house inmates safely. That said, the notion of reducing prison population is a groundbreaking step for South Carolina. Less than a decade ago, lawmakers were passing legislation to lock up as many people as fast and for as long as possible. We are especially pleased to see Speaker Wilkins, who was a leader in passing tough-on-crime legislation in the 1990s, spearhead the push to alleviate prison overcrowding. We commend him for his effort. Under the "targeted release" and "alternative placement" programs, the sentencing judge would recommend nonviolent offenders for participation. Nonviolent inmates make up about half of our state's prisoners. Many of them could be better rehabilitated through treatment and alternatives to incarceration. Kept in prison, they consume precious space and resources needed to house more dangerous and violent criminals. The targeted release plan would allow Corrections to release nonviolent inmates serving between 91 days and one year into the community before the end of their term. The inmates would have to meet a curfew, find a job, participate in educational and counseling programs, refrain from using alcohol and nonprescription medication or drugs and pay a supervision fee. Inmates who fail to obey the rules could be returned to prison. Under the alternative placement program, Corrections could place nonviolent criminals serving between one and five years in a specialized institutional program. After six months, the agency could transfer the inmate to a structured community program. The inmates would have to follow many of the rules for those under the targeted release plan. They also could be required to attend a residential program or day reporting center or be subject to electronic monitoring or other supervision. The legislation also would give Corrections more flexibility in managing "good time," slight reductions in sentences inmates earn for good behavior. This bill is not perfect; lawmakers should thoroughly debate it and make necessary improvements. In the end, we hope to see bold legislation that helps ease prison overcrowding. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin