Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jan 2005
Source: Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2005 Southeast Missourian
Contact:  http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)
Note: From the Springfield News-Leader

PRISON SMARTS

The same set of statistics can lead to one of two conclusions:
Missouri is tougher on crime than Kansas is.

Kansas is smarter than Missouri is.

We believe the second conclusion comes closest to the truth.

A Kansas City Star analysis found that one in 20 Missouri men is
behind bars or on parole. The state has the eighth-highest
imprisonment rate in the nation. Missouri's prison population has
doubled since 1990, requiring the building and staffing of several new
prisons.

This would be reason enough for concern. But it's just the beginning.

Missouri, with twice the population of Kansas, has more than three
times as many inmates. And the composition of the inmate populations
is considerably different. Less than one-third of the Kansas inmates
are nonviolent offenders. Fully half of Missouri prisoners are. ...

A 2003 state law sought to push the state toward more work-release
programs, home incarceration and other alternative sentencing for
nonviolent offenders. Drug courts are another option.

The large-scale use of any or all of these options would be smarter
than what Missouri is doing today. It will require political will to
make it happen.

But if Kansas politicians were able to create a more intelligent
corrections system, surely Missouri politicians can do the same. We
ought to be spending tax money more wisely. Reserving prison for
violent offenders is smarter than what we're doing now.
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MAP posted-by: Derek