An economic recession means a tightening of purse strings in all levels of Government (City, County, State and Federal). Lawmakers across the nation think they have come up with a viable solution to their budget crunches - early release of THOUSANDS of convicts from prison, including drug dealers, addicts, thieves and (possibly) even more violent criminals.
Though these officials are aware of the potential risks, the cost savings have them turning a blind eye. The early releases could (supposedly) save MILLIONS of dollars. The cost savings plans in some States would include laying off prison guards and making it harder to sending offenders back inside if they are brought up on a parole violation.
Good, Lord! What are these people thinking? As if our cities aren’t already overwhelmed by crime, let’s release hardened offenders back into the general population. Yeah, just send them back with no plans for beefing up the already overworked police force to deal with them, since most of them (the criminals) tend to pick up right where they left off with their lives of crime.
Aren’t there other solutions that could be tried instead of dumping criminals back onto the populace? How about cutting costs for those prisoners? Oh, I know, I know, those bleeding heart liberals will be up in arms about prisoners rights - but - THEY ARE CRIMINALS!!! If you choose to break the law, you deserve to suffer the consequences of those actions. Now, I’m not advocating ill treatment of those incarcerated however, do we need to fund their education? Do we need to feed them better than we can afford to feed ourselves? Do they really need to play basketball, lift weights, have rec rooms, televisions, and libraries? They are supposed to be in prison as punishment for their crimes! Yes, I can hear those same bleeding heart liberals saying that those (for lack of a better word) amenities help rehabilitate criminals, but at our expense? We the taxpayers have to tighten our budgets and do without so convicted criminals can get a law degree while incarcerated? We have to do without so they can have access to telephones and computers - which they often use to continue their criminal operations while languishing in prison on our tax dollars.
What is wrong with treating them as what they are - law breaking criminals. Give them clean but minimal housing, low cost but nutritionally sound meals, medical attention if warranted, and that is it - nothing else.
Opening up prison gates to dump thousands of criminals out into the population is just creating a ticking time bomb. I plan to contact my representatives to let them know how I feel about this absurd idea - how about you?