Prison Closures, Prison Budget Cuts and an ACLU Complaint

I'm back! It was like living without my right arm, not having my computer. But alas, after a few trips to Cancun and back, the machine I like to call Romeo has been repaired on Apple's tab.

So, here's a few bits of news from the enchanting world of US Corrections today.

The ACLU has filed a complaint against the Crossroads Correctional Center in Montana for mistreatment of Native American inmates:

The ACLU complaint states that there were repeated strip-searches in view of other inmates before and after sweat lodge ceremonies and that correctional officers retaliated against the inmates when complaints about their mistreatment were lodged.

KXLH Helena News, Shelby, Courts, ACLU, Crossroads Correctional

New York State DOC plans on closing several minimum and medium security prisons. The closures have corrections staff concerned:

The closures will save the state an estimated $20 million this year, and $30 million in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, says Erik Kriss, a DOC spokesperson.

According to a press release from Donn Rowe, the president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOBA), the closures will contribute to an overcrowding problem.

"Our prisons, which currently operate at 104 percent capacity, are already overcrowded and understaffed and these cuts will only exacerbate an already dangerous situation, endangering the lives of corrections officers and increasing the risk of inmate violence," he said in the release.

Last Call at the Iron Bars - DOC to Close Annexes at Eastern, Sullivan

Wisconsin Governor proposes a new state budget that includes changes to prison policy that would allow more non-violent offenders to be released sooner and have their supervision end sooner. As expected, many critics are shouting about "risks to public safety" even though all statistics in all studies ever done on the subject indicate that imprisonment causes recidivism, thus being the true cause of "risks to public safety". Not to mention the fact that non-violent offenders don't actually threaten public safety, they only threaten property and the unattainable, Utopian, fairy-taleish desire for a drug-free America.

Gov. Jim Doyle's budget proposal includes multiple measures to ease state prison overcrowding, including making some felons eligible for release sooner and eliminating probation for some nonviolent offenders. Doyle also would end extended supervision earlier for inmates who have been released.

Republicans, including Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, have said Doyle's proposals put public safety at risk.

Prison policy changes could save $2B

And finally, this is a really great story.

Technorati Tags: prison, corrections, budget cuts, closures, native american, ACLU