Comments on: Prison State Idaho Rents Beds From Colorado Prison

By: Gentry Semper Fi

Gentry Semper Fi — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:17:17 +0000

#12 I can only speak to my own experience.. And you are very correct. On the one hand “Do the crime, Do the time”, but the prison I was in (WMCC) there were “ALOT” of just plain stupid people, who’d done some pretty minor stuff. Mainly drugs, GTA and a select few bank robbers (2 of which were from CO.) and again we as a society should rethink what crimes deserve true prison or just probation / house arrest.

Part of the problem with the CO. inmates was that the only education available (atleast at the time I was there) was for people who did not have a GED. nothing beyond 12th grade level. There was weights & some sports, limited library but no TV “unless you could afford it” most of the CO inmates could not.

By: croaker

croaker — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:27:34 +0000

@1 Too expensive. Cheaper just to shoot them.

By: Leon Wolfeson

Leon Wolfeson — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 22:04:24 +0000

@16 – Yes, you keep blaming people doing their jobs, and not the bosses of private companies which run so much of the system these days. It must be that people talking to each causes crime!

By: earl

earl — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:19:34 +0000

Yessir! “Criminal justice” is THE business to be in…

By: liberranter

liberranter — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:05:39 +0000

@#4: BINGO!

Isn’t it both sickening and sad that something so obvious hasn’t corrected this situation by now?

This is why this country is f***ed.

By: jesse

jesse — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:03:05 +0000

“Fewer criminals means fewer prisons. Far less expense to the government.”

That’s not acceptable for it also means less money spent on prison guards, prison unions, and prison guard union pensions.

Same goes for the police that put the criminals in prison in the first place.

By: JLS

JLS — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:04:41 +0000

#13

Well you have to remember, the rest of the world is so far behind us and our advanced civilization.

By: Yizmo Gizmo

Yizmo Gizmo — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:13:50 +0000

Think about that-a good sized county with a fast growing population and yet somehow they don’t feel the need to lock up enough people to justify building a jail!

How odd. How are you gonna clog up the TV with all
those “Lockup” shows if you don’t have a damn jail ?!

By: JLS

JLS — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:08:47 +0000

I live in Galveston county, Texas but spent a summer in Galway Ireland a few years ago. Galway is the fastest growing city in Europe. Imagine One night on the high street where all the bars are, watching all the drunks and seeing the cops (who ignored the drunks since being drunk in itself isnt illegal) I asked why they weren’t arresting anyone. I was told by my Irish friends that County Galway doesn’t even have a jail. There isn’t a jail in the whole county!

Think about that-a good sized county with a fast growing population and yet somehow they don’t feel the need to lock up enough people to justify building a jail!

By: derfel cadarn

derfel cadarn — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:29:24 +0000

In response to Gentry, If we “assume” that the people in prison actually deserve to be there,then I can see no reason to to take seriously their complaints of no education and recreational facilities. This is a penal system (look it up) It would be nice if it were a rehabilitation system but it is not. Our focus should be on rethinking what IS crime and socially preventing people becoming criminals by resurrecting the family unit and in stilling in our children respect a solid work ethic and most of all self worth.

By: Pi Guy

Pi Guy — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:11:47 +0000

Since we’re ALL crimimals anyway (3 felonies a day), why don’t we just place ourselves under house arrest? Don’t leave home, don’t work, don’t generate any tax revenue…

I mean, after all, just think about how much safer it will be with all of us degenerate low-lifes out running the streets.

By: Marty

Marty — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:16:29 +0000

‘Fewer criminals means fewer prisons. Far less expense to the government.’

Should read ‘Far less expense to the taxpayer.’- But the government isn’t interested in saving us money…

By: marie

marie — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:55:58 +0000

Budget concerns at city/state/federal levels are a great opportunity to bring some sense to the justice system. As Mike said, Maybe if the state stopped declaring legal behavior illegal, there would be fewer people locked up?

Fewer criminals means fewer prisons. Far less expense to the government.

By: His Always

His Always — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:45:22 +0000

In Idaho there are hundreds if not a thousand or more inmates who are over their fixed portion of their sentence, yet the powers that be refuse to release them on parole. If you go to prison in Idaho plan to do MOST if not all of your indeterminate time, especially if you are a “good” inmate that causes no problems.

By: Gentry Semper Fi

Gentry Semper Fi — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:26:42 +0000

How strange since Colorado was sending there inmates to Missouri “Many of the 200 Colorado inmates transferred to missouri prison to help reduce prison overcrowding are complaining about their new home dubing it not Missouri but MISERY Prison, they complain they are being warehoused with inadequate medical treatment, no educational or recreational programs and to far from thier homes.. Not to mention poor pay Missouri only gives inmates $7.50 per month where Colorado pays upwards of $45.00

By: frijoles jr

frijoles jr — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:21:47 +0000

Seems like it would have been simpler, cheaper, and more just to pick the 130 least-dangerous individuals who were close to release anyway and let them go early.

By: Bergman

Bergman — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:18:48 +0000

When something horrific happens, politicians believe they MUST pass legislation or appear soft on crime, which will cause them to lose the next election.

This is the result.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 04:38:44 +0000

Maybe if the state stopped declaring legal behavior illegal, there would be fewer people locked up?

Oops, sorry, I know common sense is against the rules.

By: bacchys

bacchys — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 04:27:14 +0000

Shipping prisoners out of state away from their support structure- if they have one- shouldn’t be legal.

If the state doesn’t have enough beds: tough shit. Their state legislators should have to house overflow for not being responsible enough to provide the housing for all those they’ve decided should be behind bars.

By: Phil in Parker

Phil in Parker — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 03:05:24 +0000

I have a friend who is Corrections Officer in a Colorado state institution. His description is terrifying. For example, one officer locked up in the canteen with 200 inmates. Bringing in more… WTF?