Austin
American Statesman (AAS) has an editorial called "Money misspent on
prisons is money better spent elsewhere." (Link to article) The writers of this editorial
claims that the incarceration rate has dropped to 150,000, a decline of
about 7000 prisoners from what was reported three years ago. This number is
supposed to continue to decrease since the rate of crime in Texas has dropped.
The state of Texas is focusing more on rehabilitation and treatment programs
for certain crimes.
This also holds true for the 6 juvenile detention centers in Texas that are only filled to half the capacity. The editorial states that Texas, in addition to the state run prisons, they also leases beds from privately operated prisons and spend $123 million to lease these beds. The rational for keeping these prisons open is for economic reasons, by keeping them running, it means more jobs for the counties they are located.
Gregory Hooks says these findings are incorrect and that the prison does not contribute much, it may actually negatively impact the economy. Hooks backs these finding up by stating, "is attributable partly to the lower pay and fewer benefits offered by private prisons, which also have a higher turnover rate than state prisons."
The proposal is to not renew the contracts with the privately run prisons when the contract runs up. Also to close two per-parole transfer facilities that are privately run that house around 4400 prisoners and employ 757 workers. Once these are closed they want to consolidate the prisoners to direct money elsewhere.
I do believe that there is a way to consolidate and this editorial makes very valid points. One thing that would have to be done is to make sure nonviolent offenders are not mixed in with the violent ones. They will need to keep the prisons open that can keep these criminals separate in different cellblocks. Closing privately run prisons and hiring more workers in state run prisons may end up being more profitable for the employee and reduce turnover rates for the state.
This also holds true for the 6 juvenile detention centers in Texas that are only filled to half the capacity. The editorial states that Texas, in addition to the state run prisons, they also leases beds from privately operated prisons and spend $123 million to lease these beds. The rational for keeping these prisons open is for economic reasons, by keeping them running, it means more jobs for the counties they are located.
Gregory Hooks says these findings are incorrect and that the prison does not contribute much, it may actually negatively impact the economy. Hooks backs these finding up by stating, "is attributable partly to the lower pay and fewer benefits offered by private prisons, which also have a higher turnover rate than state prisons."
The proposal is to not renew the contracts with the privately run prisons when the contract runs up. Also to close two per-parole transfer facilities that are privately run that house around 4400 prisoners and employ 757 workers. Once these are closed they want to consolidate the prisoners to direct money elsewhere.
I do believe that there is a way to consolidate and this editorial makes very valid points. One thing that would have to be done is to make sure nonviolent offenders are not mixed in with the violent ones. They will need to keep the prisons open that can keep these criminals separate in different cellblocks. Closing privately run prisons and hiring more workers in state run prisons may end up being more profitable for the employee and reduce turnover rates for the state.
Here is the link to the article:
Money misspent on prisons is money better spent elsewhere
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