Pubdate: Sun, 25 Feb 2007 Source: Buffalo News (NY) Copyright: 2007 The Buffalo News Contact: http://www.buffalo.com/contact_us/submit_editorial.asp Website: http://www.buffalonews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/61 Author: Murray Light Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) PRISON COMMISSION IDEA IS GOOD It didn't take long for New York's new governor, Eliot L. Spitzer, to emulate his predecessor's action in proposing the establishment of a commission to accomplish something he knows will be controversial. The governor wants a commission to study the possibility of closing some of the state's correctional facilities. Former governor George E. Pataki did succeed in getting approval for a commission to study the possible closing of some hospitals in the state, and it recommended closing at least 20 of these facilities. The report also suggested the shrinking or merging of many other hospitals. The final report of the Pataki hospital commission has evoked cries of anguish around the state and has resulted in some legal actions designed to thwart the recommendations of the commission. Now a new governor is in place and he's proposing a commission to look at what he considers to be an excess of correctional facilities in the state. Spitzer cites the fact that the state's prison population, which peaked at more than 71,000 in 1999 has dropped dramatically and now stands at about 63,000. The new commission would have to be approved by the Legislature and that's not going to be an easy matter. The prison system has created thousands of jobs in communities large and small throughout the state. Some of the opponents of any prison closings are using the specious reasoning that the prison system has become in effect an economic development program and should not be cut back. I cannot concur in that premise although I do agree that with the drop in prison population it is time to review the need for as many facilities as are now operating in the state. Economic development should not in any way be dependent upon an element of a state's criminal incarceration system. The state's prison system has been running on a budget of some $2.7 billion a year. Spitzer wants to put some of those dollars in place for his programs, such as a vast increase in education funding, a very much worthy and needed venture. Past efforts to cut back the prison system have not been successful. The Legislature repeatedly rejected Pataki's attempts to do this. Of course the $1.8 million donated by the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association to various state politicians in recent years has been a major factor in the decisions by the Legislature on facility cutbacks. Money always talks in politics. Not too long ago the president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association was quoted as saying that "we're not open to any closures at this point." A typical reaction is that of a Republican state senator who represents an Adirondacks district. She notes that her district includes 12 prisons and prison camps. "They have tremendous economic impact," says Elizabeth Little. She most certainly would not be voting for approval of any prison facility closings. The governor has to be pleased that the Republican majority leader of the Senate has said that he is open to the concept of a prison commission being set up. He carries a lot of weight with his members and is also quite likely to go along with those who want to protect jobs in their districts. On a related matter, members of the governor's staff have said that he will create through executive order a second commission to study potential changes in sentencing. That's been done in some other states and has resulted in cutting back on prison inmate population. This commission would not need approval of the Legislature to be established. It's an excellent idea. I'd suggest one change should be in the sentencing for marijuana possession in small amounts. That change would certainly keep the prison population down and should not endanger anyone. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin