Posted on 10/20/2003 10:55:59 AM PDT by hsmomx3
PHOENIX - Lawmakers are looking at reviving the idea of sending Mexican nationals locked up in Arizona prisons south of the border to serve the remainder of their sentences.
And it could come into play as the Legislature goes into a special session today on prison spending and crowding.
The move to ship Mexican inmates to Mexico could save millions for the state's strapped coffers but is drawing criticism from inmates' rights groups, and Gov. Janet Napolitano questions the benefits.
But Rep. Bill Konopnicki, a Safford Republican, says it would put Mexican prisoners closer to their families. "A fair amount of them would like to be home," he said.
Konopnicki is studying sentencing reform in advance of the special session.
Napolitano is asking for more than $26 million to cover the cost of housing an increasing number of inmates. The state prison system is about 4,200 inmates over capacity.
Konopnicki's group is looking at a variety of ways to cut down the prison population, including eliminating jail time while increasing the fine for those with multiple drunken-driving convictions.
Among the ideas that Konopnicki and others want addressed during the special session is looking at sending Mexican inmates to serve their sentences in their native land.
About 3,300 Mexican nationals are in state prisons at an annual cost of nearly $20,000 per inmate. That adds up to about $66 million a year.
Konopnicki said only some prisoners would be eligible for relocation. Those convicted of murder, rape and other violent crimes would remain in Arizona. But those locked up for drug and property crimes could be moved.
Mexican officials contacted about the proposal said they were unaware of the proposal's details and declined to comment.
A 1976 treaty on the execution of penal sentences between the U.S. and Mexico allows prisoners from either country to serve sentences for crimes committed in the neighboring country to serve out their sentences in their home country. That is when the conviction involves acts that are illegal in both countries, and where sentences and other penalties are similar.
The option to apply for transfers extends to both federal and state prisoners. Information on the number of prisoner transfers was not available.
Numerous hurdles must be overcome, including clearing up liability issues and ensuring inmates serve all their time in prison.
Caroline Isaacs, with the Tucson branch of the prison reform group American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, said the idea is fraught with problems, including who is accountable for the prisoners.
"It simply would complicate the issue of who is ultimately responsible for the treatment and care of these folks and what accountability would they have to the state of Arizona," Isaacs said.
She also discounted the move would make it easier for prisoners to see family members, noting many have relatives in the United States.
The housing of prisoners could work one of two ways, Konopnicki and others say.
The prisoners could be transferred to a Mexican government facility, and the state would pay a fee at the end of the sentence.
"They save us money, but they get their people back," Konopnicki said. "That's their motivation."
Konopnicki plans to meet with Mexican officials this month about the idea.
The other option is a prison built and operated by a private company billing the state on a per diem basis that would likely be substantially less than the average in an Arizona prison.
Former prison chief Terry Stewart had been shopping an idea for a private prison in Mexico to house nationals. Stewart could not be reached for comment.
Dora Schrirro, head of the Arizona Department of Corrections, said she will take a look at the proposal.
"It's an interesting idea," Schrirro said. "Everything ought to be given some consideration. The question is whether there is authority."
Her boss isn't exactly thrilled with the idea, however.
"It's not something the governor is in favor of pursuing," said Napolitano's spokesman, Paul Allvin. "These will be wards of the state in Mexico. If they escape or hurt themselves or commit crimes, there is a huge liability issue for Arizona."
* Contact reporter Barrett Marson at (602) 271-0623 or at bmarson@azstarnet.com.
Sounds fine to me,
Plain pine box, simple burial, no grass means easy maintenance, could save millions.
Freepmail me if you wish to be removed from or added to this list!
You have a new granddaughter? Congratulations!
2. Seal everything except legal crossing points. If they try to come back in, stop them.
Anything less is a waste of time, but...
I believe the above can be done for a whole lot less than $26 Million.
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