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Debate of sorts.....feeling?
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<blockquote data-quote="skeeter" data-source="post: 242717" data-attributes="member: 439"><p>husband and I do a lot of volunteering for our community. We are member of Citizens on Patrol, and Problem Oriented Policing, and husband does Court Watch (where they follow those convicted of crimes in our neighborhood, or those that live in our neighborhood, through the system).</p><p></p><p>"Historically" there have been several reasons for incarceration - rehabilitation, prevention, punishment, and to protect society. With a 70&#37; recidivism rate here, I think everyone can say rehabilition doesn't work. Going to jail is not seen as a threat OR a punishment for many - in fact, they'd rather go to jail for 6 months than have community control for 2 years. </p><p></p><p>That means the ONLY reason for incarceration is to protect society.</p><p></p><p>And that does NOT mean incarcerating those that have non-violent offense, psychological issues (that would be better treated in other ways), etc.</p><p></p><p>However, we have no other options.</p><p></p><p>The year before last we were asked to be a part of a tax initiative called a "comprehensive safety plan". Yes, there was to be money set aside to build a new jail - but that's because one of ours (that is now closed and we lost 800 beds when it did so) was a 100 year old factory that was falling apart. There was also a lot of money that was going to go to things such as reintroduction to society (one plan was a training certificate that the person would earn for future employment options), psychological and drug treatments, juvenile prevention, etc.</p><p></p><p>It also wasn't a lot as far as taxes go. It was a sales tax, half cent for 8 years, 1/4 cent for 7 years, then it would be taken off - it could not be renewed.</p><p></p><p>The opposition (and believe me, I'm against taxes as much as the next person) grabbed ahold of the "jail" portion (it became know as the jail tax) and managed to get it defeated.</p><p></p><p>Our county is broke, but by law has to have a balanced budget. Because of all the state and federal mandates that MUST be funded, the only area that the county really has any say so over is safety and Jobs and Family Services. Several hundred at J&FS have lost jobs. Over 100 deputies have been let go. One of our jails has been closed. We have one in house treatment facility left. Trying to keep track of those on community control is impossible.</p><p></p><p>husband fights constantly for psychological treatment for some of our "guys" - we know they aren't really criminals, they need help. But there is no where for them to go. They continue to self medicate, and then get into trouble.</p><p></p><p>I don't know what the answers are. We've been involved in this for about 5 years now, and it gets harder and harder. One of our "guys" was murdered in February, less than 2 weeks after he was released from jail. He was 19.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="skeeter, post: 242717, member: 439"] husband and I do a lot of volunteering for our community. We are member of Citizens on Patrol, and Problem Oriented Policing, and husband does Court Watch (where they follow those convicted of crimes in our neighborhood, or those that live in our neighborhood, through the system). "Historically" there have been several reasons for incarceration - rehabilitation, prevention, punishment, and to protect society. With a 70% recidivism rate here, I think everyone can say rehabilition doesn't work. Going to jail is not seen as a threat OR a punishment for many - in fact, they'd rather go to jail for 6 months than have community control for 2 years. That means the ONLY reason for incarceration is to protect society. And that does NOT mean incarcerating those that have non-violent offense, psychological issues (that would be better treated in other ways), etc. However, we have no other options. The year before last we were asked to be a part of a tax initiative called a "comprehensive safety plan". Yes, there was to be money set aside to build a new jail - but that's because one of ours (that is now closed and we lost 800 beds when it did so) was a 100 year old factory that was falling apart. There was also a lot of money that was going to go to things such as reintroduction to society (one plan was a training certificate that the person would earn for future employment options), psychological and drug treatments, juvenile prevention, etc. It also wasn't a lot as far as taxes go. It was a sales tax, half cent for 8 years, 1/4 cent for 7 years, then it would be taken off - it could not be renewed. The opposition (and believe me, I'm against taxes as much as the next person) grabbed ahold of the "jail" portion (it became know as the jail tax) and managed to get it defeated. Our county is broke, but by law has to have a balanced budget. Because of all the state and federal mandates that MUST be funded, the only area that the county really has any say so over is safety and Jobs and Family Services. Several hundred at J&FS have lost jobs. Over 100 deputies have been let go. One of our jails has been closed. We have one in house treatment facility left. Trying to keep track of those on community control is impossible. husband fights constantly for psychological treatment for some of our "guys" - we know they aren't really criminals, they need help. But there is no where for them to go. They continue to self medicate, and then get into trouble. I don't know what the answers are. We've been involved in this for about 5 years now, and it gets harder and harder. One of our "guys" was murdered in February, less than 2 weeks after he was released from jail. He was 19. [/QUOTE]
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