According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, State Sen Bill Seitz introduced Senate Bill 22 which would allow minor offenders to be sentenced to community programs and created sentencing alternatives to for parents convicted of failing to pay child support amongst other measures aimed at reduce the prison population.
Currently the state’s 32 prisons are operating at 132 percent of their designed capacity. The two state prisons in Warren County on Friday were holding inmates at 73 and 76 percent above their designed capacity, according the article.
Placing minor offenders in overcrowded prisons with other more violent offenders does nothing for the community. It costs money to maintain the prisons and prisoners, increasing population size means an associated increase in the money required to operate the prisons.
Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters feels Senate Bill 22 is entirely budget drive and does not take into consideration the safety of the community. The first part of his argument should come as no surprise, the economy is in full recession and tax revenues are falling off of the charts. However, I disagree with his second assumption. Community safety is already at risk with Queensgate closing and Hamilton County Sherrif’s Office laying off 155 employees and leaving another 65 positions unfilled.
Sentencing guidelines need to be adjusted to make room for the truly violent criminals to be incarcerated. Incarcerating a deadbeat parent with a hardened, violent offender only furthers the overcrowding problem and may lead the non-violent offender to turn to violence once they are released.
Mara Salvatrucha (MS) 13 was formed in the prisons of California and now has become one of the most notorious gangs in the United States. Exposing young convicts or non-violent offenders to prison has always struck me as counter-productive to having a safer community. The prison gangs will quickly recruit the young and defenseless into their gangs. Looking at different sentencing guidelines is one way of trying to reduce crime while also reducing demands on state and county budgets.
“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.”--Benjamin Franklin
5 comments:
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THIS NEW BILL WILL DO FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN JUST FOR A PAROLE VIOLATION?
putting non paying parents into prison for non support is absolutely stupid!! it cost more for tax payers to pay for the prisoners a day than what the parent owes in child support. also putting a felony label on the parent is ridiculous also because then the parent cannot get a good job because of the felony label. the state of ohio has just created a vicious cycle because nothing will ever be resolved. the parent should have to pay. but come on there has to be another way. instead of a prison how about some kind of community house where they do community work and get paid for it, so they pay child support and get also some pay themselves so they also can get on their feet. there just has to be another way. this violation is just costing tax payers!!!
this bill would be great. people in prisons because of lack of child support payments is ridiculous. this cost tax payers more money per day housing the offender than what is owed daily for child support. also i think the felony label should be taken off for this offense. that label just keeps the offending parent from getting a good job and also just creates a vicous circle that never helps the offending parent or the child/children that need that support. with the economy being the way it is we are going to have alot of parents in there for non support. a community house where the parents can do community work and get paid a competive wage can pay the child support and maybe give the offending parent a little of that too to get them back on their feet. sitting in prisons and taking care of cows is not helping anyone.
This bill needs to address the prisoners who have served out their time under the "old law" but remain incarcerated because the parole board is in fear of losing their jobs. Men and women who were sentenced over 22 years ago should be considered for parole when their prison record shows good behavior and fulfillment of programs. They have served their time. Let them begin giving back before they become too old to work. These people will earn a wage and take the burden off of the state. It will also make room for people who are committing crimes now and need to spend time in prison. The old law sentences need to be upheld and the passing of Senate Bill 22 will do that. Stop wasting tax payers money by keeping people in prison who deserve a second chance.
i would like to know more about ppl that have minor sentenceing? like if their only in there for a year over something minor will they be getting released?...
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