Posted on 04/16/2007 4:08:19 PM PDT by truth49
The following report by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation details the current prison capacity quandary and the massive capacity shortages Washington is facing in the next ten years. Steady population growth and tougher sentencing laws have added pressure to the already-saturated prison system, which has led to criminals being released early. Without immediate action on the part of legislators, the state can expect a shortfall of 4,077 prison beds by 2017. The shortages are endangering the safety of inmates, staff, and neighboring communities. The state’s prisons have an operational capacity of 14,440 beds, but the actual number of prisoners in these facilities stands at 15,552—meaning the system is stretched to 107.7 percent capacity. The shortage has reached hazardous levels at some facilities, such as the Washington Corrections Center, currently at 152.3 percent capacity. In addition, the state has to rent nearly 1,600 beds from out-of-state facilities or county jails to house the remaining offender population.
The report identifies four major obstacles facing Washington’s prison system.
Overcrowding Augmenting costs of confinement and treatment High rate of recidivism Sanctions for community correction violators With a $700 million annual budget, nearly 18,000 inmates and 26,000 offenders on community supervision, there is no simple or fast way to address system wide problems. However, lawmakers can be expected to respond efficiently and effectively to agency concerns and to fund facilities and programs that prioritize public safety. Various short- and long-term policy alternatives and best practices are explored in the report to aid in the resolution of the four problems identified.
Key recommendations include:
Renting additional beds from Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) as a short-term solution to the immediate problem of overcrowding. Considering the construction of private prisons to reduce long-term costs. Privatizing some state-run facilities and county jails to conserve funds. Funding re-entry programs identified by the Washington Institute for Public Policy that have proven to be effective rehabilitative tools, to reduce the recidivism rate and subsequently lower the demand for new prison space. To read the full report, please click here: http://www.effwa.org/pdfs/EFFDOCReport.pdf
Washington *ping*
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