Even the Bainbridge and Decatur County Post-Searchlight publishes news about their very own
state legislator explaining one of the biggest reasont why prisons are
a bad bet for a local economy:
because we can’t afford to lock up so many people anymore.
Brennan Leathers wrote 6 January 2012,
Georgia legislature going back to work
State Senator John Bulloch (R-Ochlocknee):
“We’re still struggling to find revenue to pay for operation
of the state government and its services,” Bulloch said.
“We’re going to have to fill holes that we filled during
worse
economic times using federal stimulus money and other temporary
money.”
Bulloch said he also understands Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has
instructed Georgia’s department heads to include 2-percent cuts in
their budget requests for this year.
One way in which legislators might opt to save money is by
streamlining its criminal penal code. According to Bulloch, Georgia
has a very high number of people serving supervised probation or
parole.
“A lot of those people who are in prison or under close
supervision by state officers are serving sentences for non-violent
offenses or minor felonies,” Bulloch said. “We may look
at alternative means for dealing with them, such as creating drug
courts or setting up drug-testing centers that would monitor drug
offenders without imprisoning them.”
Which would mean fewer people in prison.
Which would mean no need for new prisons.
And some existing prisons might close.
Do we want a private prison in Lowndes County so more prisoners
can compete with local workers here, too?
If you don’t think so, remember
CCA says community opposition
can impede private prison site selection.
Here’s a
petition urging the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authorithy
to stop the CCA private prison.
Spend those tax dollars on rehabilitation and education instead.
-jsq
