Pubdate: Thu, 02 Dec 2004
Source: Oak Ridger (TN)
Copyright: 2004 The Oak Ridger
Contact:  http://www.oakridger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1146
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Note: from the The Tennessean (Nashville)

ADDRESSING PRISONS SOMETHING STATE MUST DO, IS DOING

Tennessee must continue to look for the smartest ways to address prisons; 
discussions in Nashville last week should foster that goal. Criminal 
justice officials from across the state met for four days in a Criminal 
Justice Summit to discuss ways to streamline and improve the system. The 
summit produced a list of alternative approaches to incarceration that is 
worthy of the state's attention.

The proposals include establishing more reporting centers for parolees, 
building partnerships between government and community agencies and 
implementing more drug courts. Authorities are also looking at using 
tracking systems on parolees, as opposed to keeping them under lock and key.

Some of those ideas were discussed prior to the summit by state 
Commissioner of Correction Quenton White, who has emphasized approaches 
such as alternative sentencing and rehabilitation as a way to hold down the 
state's prison population.

White emphasized that public safety is the most important concern. The 
public needs to see that prison officials will not waver on that 
commitment. But just locking up offenders makes no sense if there are more 
productive approaches.

White points to the escalating costs of providing more prison beds. The 
state spent $480 million this year to house 22,000 inmates. If a person is 
in trouble with an addiction, it makes more sense to get that person off 
the addiction than to let lockup be the answer. It makes more sense to 
monitor nonviolent offenders who could be out and productive than to keep 
them in one place.

White is right to call attention to alternative approaches in criminal 
justice. The summit was the first of its kind in the state, but it 
shouldn't be the last. 
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