| A minimum-security prison is closing, partly because we're sending less people to prison. Why aren't we celebrating? While other news outlets lament the 'terrible' news of the closure of a minimum security prison in Ft. Supply, Oklahoma; it scores as a huge win for taxpayers in the criminal justice reform effort. Many news outlets are focusing on the govt. jobs lost, and the state funds no longer coming into certain communities. Those state funds came out of every taxpayer's pocket. But no media outlet is celebrating the milestone evidence that our govt. is forced to live within it's means. Sen. Murdock & Rep Newton ought to be celebrating the cuts in prison spending. They ought to campaign for re election on these examples of fiscal conservatism. Local economies should not rely on govt. agencies to grow a community. This will be painful to adjust to, but it will realign NW Woodward County to an economy based on industry production in the private sector, rather than consuming more & more tax dollars and growing government. The massive growth of prisons over 50 years. |  The Key Prison, in Fort Supply, is closing. This happens when prison systems consolidate from lower inmate populations. It's a sign of a good thing for taxpayers. |
The pendulum of public policy in the 70s was very difficult on the effective deterrent impact of criminal incarceration. When courts ruled against many prison policies as being 'cruel & unusual', And ruled that prisoners must have certain minimum accommodations; it led to a citizens' revolt in the 80s.
Longer prison sentences, and mandates prohibiting courts from granting early release. The Oklahoma '85%' rule says that an inmate cannot begin getting credit for good behavior in prison until after serving 85% of their sentence of incarceration. Anyone who didn't go along with the 'get tough' sentencing mandates was quickly labeled 'soft on crime'.
In the 90s, privatizing of our prisons then created a strong incentive for keeping inmates longer, because private prison corporations are paid per-inmate population.
By 2010, Oklahoma became one of the highest per-capita states for prison incarceration. And the USA is the highest in the world for per-capita incarceration rates. Oklahoma still is among the highest in the world, especially for female incarcerations.
But are Oklahomans the most vile state population in the world? Because that's the only rational conclusion which would justify the dubious distinction of having the highest per-capita incarceration rate.
In the 90s, privatizing of our prisons then created a strong incentive for keeping inmates longer, because private prison corporations are paid per-inmate population.
By 2010, Oklahoma became one of the highest per-capita states for prison incarceration. And the USA is the highest in the world for per-capita incarceration rates. Oklahoma still is among the highest in the world, especially for female incarcerations.
But are Oklahomans the most vile state population in the world? Because that's the only rational conclusion which would justify the dubious distinction of having the highest per-capita incarceration rate.
Alternatives to prison.
The use of prisons as a restrictive 'time out' punishment for criminals, is also a punishment of taxpayers, to the tune of nearly $25k per inmate, per year. But that's just the beginning of the punishment of society for the crime of one individual.
New technologies allow house arrest at a fraction of the cost of running jail cells. Parents can still care for children while in house arrest. Many Oklahomans can continue providing for themselves and their households while in house arrest.
The state's foster care system is also less expensive when house arrest options are utilized.
Work penalties are also an underused option. Yes, community service is often part of some misdemeanor sentences, but could be used more as an alternative for convicts. A way to shorten the detention portion of a sentence.
New technologies allow house arrest at a fraction of the cost of running jail cells. Parents can still care for children while in house arrest. Many Oklahomans can continue providing for themselves and their households while in house arrest.
The state's foster care system is also less expensive when house arrest options are utilized.
Work penalties are also an underused option. Yes, community service is often part of some misdemeanor sentences, but could be used more as an alternative for convicts. A way to shorten the detention portion of a sentence.
When we closed our 90% of our state mental hospitals, All a cop or judge could do to protect society from a sick person acting psychotically, is lock them up on some pretext of a process crime. A cop simply 'gets in the face' of a person in a nervous breakdown, thereby inciting a 'pushback' from the suffering individual. And the mentally ill person gets locked up until they are competent enough to go to court. This keeps a mentally ill person in jail for up to a year, without even beginning to have a day in court. The judge can order the inmate into a state mental hospital, but the waiting list is at least 10 months, as of this spring.
Often the ill person never gets the proper mental health care in a county jail. And often the ill person gets far worse from the abusive treatment from cops and detention officers. This is largely because training is imbalanced & noncompliance is assumed to be obstinance, rather than a confusion of psychosis. The screaming tactics of a cop will drive a psychotic person further into a deeper psychosis.
Often the ill person never gets the proper mental health care in a county jail. And often the ill person gets far worse from the abusive treatment from cops and detention officers. This is largely because training is imbalanced & noncompliance is assumed to be obstinance, rather than a confusion of psychosis. The screaming tactics of a cop will drive a psychotic person further into a deeper psychosis.
For youthful perpetrators, military service could become an alternative. Successfully serving a 4-year enlistment, ought to be an opportunity to avoid a 5-year state incarceration in our prisons. Not every convict can opt for this, but many healthy nonviolent criminals could not only become successful, they can finally get some much-needed self discipline from serving. Perhaps only some military positions can be filled by these young offenders. But the military has thousands of these opportunities. If the military tour fails, the convict comes back to the state and finishes the original prison sentence.
Nearly 6 years ago, voters passed State Question 780 & 781. The two initiative petitions were a major reform which lawmakers refused to enact. The major objectives were to reduce to a misdemeanor, the felony charge of unapproved possessing small amounts of certain drugs. Those misdemeanor convictions are still punished with up to 1 year in the county jail.
It also adjusted to $1000, the threshold value of goods stolen; in order to convict a person of a felony. Now, amounts under $1000 are prosecuted as misdemeanors and time is served in the county jails.
It also adjusted to $1000, the threshold value of goods stolen; in order to convict a person of a felony. Now, amounts under $1000 are prosecuted as misdemeanors and time is served in the county jails.
Restore a judge's discretion.
Prisons and exiles ought to be used for convicts whom we are justifiably afraid of, and not just our non-creative default way to take out our anger at a person we're disgusted with. Someone who exploits children, ought to be kept away from children. That's a simple concept & sex offenders ought to be treated as a public concern.
We built a state constitution with a judicial branch to oversee & adjudicate crime. But our legislatures and governors decided to neuter the judges who are supposed to exercise their own judgment in sentencing. We passed laws which mandate a one-size-fits-all incarceration sentence, even when a judge has spent hours in the courtroom listening to specific evidence and knows a much more effective way to secure public safety and recover the wayward offender to a productive part in society... and at a lower cost to the rest of the law-abiding taxpayers and voters in the community. We elect our courtroom judges. That ought to be enough accountability to keep judges behaving prudently.
We built a state constitution with a judicial branch to oversee & adjudicate crime. But our legislatures and governors decided to neuter the judges who are supposed to exercise their own judgment in sentencing. We passed laws which mandate a one-size-fits-all incarceration sentence, even when a judge has spent hours in the courtroom listening to specific evidence and knows a much more effective way to secure public safety and recover the wayward offender to a productive part in society... and at a lower cost to the rest of the law-abiding taxpayers and voters in the community. We elect our courtroom judges. That ought to be enough accountability to keep judges behaving prudently.
