After reading my latest editorial in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, my dad told me that gangsters are going to hunt me down.
Cripes!
While that's probably unlikely, I have, however, received a handful of responses via email. Some were filled with praise while others were quite condemnatory, heavily saturated with labels of ignorance. In fact, I've already been damned by a Reverend!
With that, I sincerely apologize if my opinion offends you or any other member of the clergy...
It's no secret that Wisconsin is facing a significant fiscal crisis.
I understand that rather than tax our way out of this problem, the government needs to find creative ways to save money and spend less.
So, when faced with an economic recession, Gov. Jim Doyle developed an interesting state budget proposal. Tucked within the plan, Doyle proposed a creative yet outrageous way to save money. In addition to taxing, Doyle wants to grant early release to a large number of state prisoners.
According to his proposal, some state prisoners would be allowed to trim as much as a third of their sentence for good behavior. This means that inmates who avoid violating prison rules could earn up to one day off for every two days incarcerated. Those in prison for violent crimes such as sex offenses, murder, etc., wouldn't get time off, but presumably nonviolent drug dealers, repeat chronic drunken drivers, white-collar or public corruption offenders and others who fall into this extensive category would be eligible to have a third of their sentence cut as a cost-saving measure.
Currently, keeping more than 22,000 inmates locked up in state prisons costs Wisconsin a hefty sum of money. While Doyle's proposal would save money and reduce overcrowding, there are reasons why this measure is one of the most ridiculous suggestions for public policy I've ever heard.
There's obvious motivation for keeping offenders in prison: to teach them a lesson, to teach others a lesson and deter them from doing the same and to protect society. Now, the state government wants to pat some of these offenders on the back for behaving while imprisoned and then allow them back in our communities early.
I'm baffled.
While incarcerated, prisoners must behave. Good behavior in prison isn't something that should be rewarded. After all, shouldn't obedience be mandatory?
From my understanding, it's difficult for police to get repeat criminals into state prisons in the first place. With the exception of the most serious offenses, criminals rarely go to state prison immediately or on a first offense in Wisconsin. Generally, by the time offenders are incarcerated at the state level, they've already amassed a long rap sheet.
Who will take responsibility when one of these early-release prisoners commits another crime?
Police are trying to get a handle on crime such as drug dealing, which is destroying some communities in Milwaukee's inner city. Due to large-scale gang roundups, crackdowns in high-crime neighborhoods, partnerships with neighborhood groups and block watches and taking illegal guns off the streets, violent crime in Milwaukee was down in almost every category in 2008. But it doesn't end there. Improving our communities will take long-term commitment.
Doyle's proposal will be devastating to neighborhoods and police officers who have been working hard to get drugs and other crime out of neighborhoods.
When the government begins to put the public's safety at risk, I draw the line.
Originally published here.
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