Emptying out my notebook, I wanted to share a few details that did not make it into the story than ran this week about the Department of Corrections’ decision, in the face of a persistently high inmate population, to extend its contract with Corrections Corporation of America and continue to send hundreds of Vermont inmates out-of-state.
* Given that the DOC currently has 1,600 in-state beds and 2,100 inmates, I asked Corrections Commissioner Andy Pallito whether his department is considering building a new prison in Vermont, rather than relying on the for-profit CCA. Pallito said the DOC does not have even preliminary plans to build a new prison, but expected to discuss the issue with state lawmakers during the upcoming session.
“I think it will come up this legislative session,” Pallito said. “I think it will be a part of the conversation, though it’s always about money.”
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Addiction is a different animal. We definitely need to treat addiction in a much different way then we are. You can’t throw someone in jail, let them come off it, and they put them back on the streets and think they aren’t going to relapse.
Distribution is another story. I know at least one case where a dealer had been nabbed a time or two and gotten some community service, but as he was generating a 6 figure yearly salary a month on work crew wasn’t too bad. I mean heck, work 30 days for 100G’s where do I sign up. Eventually, he was busted and spent several years in a federal prison… missing out on his wife and kids growing up. To the best of my knowledge that solved the problem.
Did someone else take his place… I’m sure they did. Does that mean we should overlook the crime, not to me it doesn’t.
We already have long sentences for drug offenses, unfortunately as soon as one guy goes away another takes his place. The money, thanks to prohibition, is just too tempting for some people to turn away from.
I have read that in China, a drug dealer gets a bullet in the head, yet they still have drugs in China.
If addicts could get prescriptions for their high, the black market would disappear and along with it the violence and burglaries.
Addiction is a medical problem, and some medical conditions are chronic-but it is more humane and more economical to treat these people than to prosecute a “war on drugs”.
That’s a nice straw man you built there.
What’s a little corporal punishment amongst friends?
So, it is your contention that a harsher sentence deters criminal activity? WOW. Research and education could show a lot of people that logic like that is what exacerbates the problem. Let us remember that we have a legal system, still, that presumes people are innocent until PROVEN guilty.
I would at least like to see a lot more treatment within the prison setting. Sullivan County NH – not too far from Springfield – has a program that provides substance abuse and (if needed) mental health treatment in their county jail, and it’s looking pretty promising.
You give the legal system too much credit. They don’t think about anything this much. LOL
Harsher penalties would in the long term reduce the prison population even if it would it cause a short term spike.
If a first offense DUI required 30 days in the clink instead of 30 hours community service do you think the number of cases would fall rather dramatically?
How about if distribution of drugs led to 3years in jail opposed to 20-30 days and community service? Think that might discourage a few more people that making an extra 50G’s on the side isn’t really worth it…?
No one fears a slap on the wrist…so why do we do it? If you aren’t going to adequately punish someone for breaking the law then stop it.. Clog up the system ……… stop doing so. Give them a penalty sufficient to deter criminals or just send them on their way with a scolding. The half assed approach is why their is crime and why we have too many criminals to hold in our own prisons.
And eliminate the plea deal… the most ridiculous thing ever. Most people are guilty, know they are guilty but plead not guilty why????? SO they can cut a deal with the state. In the meantime, they are scheduled for court, incarcerated in prison until the hearing and talk with the public defender who talks with the prosecution. On the other hand, if the sentence was a week in jail period… people who were guilty would just plead no contest, go serve their time and not have wasted the courts, public defenders, prosecutions time.
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If we cleaned up our courts and criminal justice system a big driver for crime would be gone.
If Vermont could give junkies and addicts a medical solution to addiction problems, a big driver of crime would be gone. Thing is, the idea that an addict could get a legal prescription for his fix is just a nonstarter for most people. We seem to prefer an unending war on drugs to actually tolerating those who are getting high to escape their demons.