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States reducing inmate numbers to save money: Should Texas?

AP reports that states are beginning to look at sacred budget cows because of the fiscal crisis and may actually reduce inmate populations to stave off rising costs. ("States look to prisons to save money, including letting some inmates go," Jan. 10):"Prior to this fiscal crisis, legislators could tinker around the edges ? but we're now well past the tinkering stage," said Marc Mauer, executive director of the Sentencing Project, which advocates alternatives to incarceration. "Many political leaders who weren't comfortable enough, politically, to do it before can now ? under the guise of fiscal responsibility ? implement programs and policies that would be win/win situations, saving money and improving corrections," Mauer said In California, faced with a projected $42 billion deficit and prison overcrowding that has triggered a federal lawsuit, Gov...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on January 11, 2009 (boomark / email).