by David Safier
AZ ranks 4th in measure of corrections spending
By Arthur H. Rotstein
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.03.2009
Arizona spent a higher percentage of its general fund on corrections in fiscal 2008 than all but three other states, according to a study released Monday.
The Pew Center on the States report looks at offenders on parole and probation.
It said Arizona spent 9.5 percent of its state general fund, or $951 million, on corrections that year. That's more than 4 1/2 times as much on some form of correctional control as it spent 20 years earlier.
Only Michigan, at 22 percent, Oregon, at 10.6 percent, and Florida, at 10 percent, devoted a higher percentage of their general funds to corrections-related expenditures.
OK, one comment — or I should say, question. Why Michigan, Oregon and Florida?
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OK, Thane, you don’t like public service – What do you think suggest? Data on recidivism suggest that incarceration doesn’t do what it is supposed to do – prevent the individual from committing crimes.
The incarceration rate is probably directly proportional to state per pupil K-12 spending (which is not $9000).
Did our state legislators slash the corrections budget?
There are clearly some people (marijuana buyers and sellers) who don’t need to be punished. Thinking that community service is going to be an alternative to prison is a less than reasonable idea in my book. There are such things as criminals for whom restitution isn’t likely to address (although I would certainly give restitution a try). Community service is a wishy-washy concept that seeks to impound labor rather than money (as fines).
I would normally assume that the astounding percentage attributed to Michigan would be explainable due to difference in what is addressed by a “general fund” state to state but considering the poor private economy in Michigan it might just be that all the money in Michigan is going to pay to imprison people at a far higher rate than other states.
http://realcostofprisons.org/
Let’s be real – there is no sense in spending money to incarcerate someone who presents no threat to society. There are plenty of better – and waaaay cheaper – means to limit their mobility – if limiting their mobility is what you want to do to punish them. I would like to see a system of getting restitution from these people through community service or ?????? – there are enough smart minds to figure out how to “punish” them without punishing our budget. So, where’s the folks who want to work on this? You can count me as one – willing and eager!
As a long time dog trainer, I can tell you that much more can be accomplished through the use of positive reinforcement than through punishment. I want to reiterate – I absolutely do NOT want anyone who presents a threat to society running around loose!
Perhaps it would be cheaper if we simply offered the prisoners a voucher to stay at the private facility of their choice.
At the top on funding prisons, at the bottom in funding education. This state truly is a petri dish of conservative thinking.