Sen. Schumer Says He "Sees" The Problem with Prison Overcrowding (He Has No Clue How To Fix It)
by Anonymous
A few months ago NY Senator Chuck Schumer visited the Federal Correctional Institute at Otisville NY and used the overcrowding problem that he saw as a "photo op." It may be clear that Schumer saw the problem but what is equally clear is that he, like so many of his colleagues, was more interested in the symbolism than in the substance and completely missed the solution. Typically, his response was "let's throw some more money at it." That might be a good deal for the unions and corrections employees, but that solution won't hold water in the long term and Schumer knows it.
Matt Kelly in a post at Change.org said: "Throwing money at our always-expanding prison population won't make it go away and it won't address the systemic problems under which the system is sagging." Matt went on to say, "He knows there are many among the 205,000 federal prisoners in the U.S. who have served too much time already for nonviolent offenses."
The crowding problem at FCI Otisville is typical of many other prisons all across the country. Otisville was built for 844 prisoners and at the time of the Senators visit held 1,205.
I would like suggest to Senator Schumer, and the rest of his colleagues in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, several ways that prison overcrowding may be corrected without additional cost to the taxpayers:
1-Immediately pass out of committee and sign into law H.R. 1529 the "Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009" which will allow first time non-violent offenders to make application before the court to have their record expunged. By giving these ex-offenders a real "second chance" the recidivism rate will be greatly reduced resulting in a reduction of prison population and cost to the taxpayer. This legislation is the most important currently pending, as it will immediately allow thousands to seek relief thus allowing them to seek and gain meaningful employment.
2- Immediately pass out of committee and sign into law H.R. 1475 which will re-instate the good-time allowances for federal prisoners. Federal prisoners can currently earn a maximum of 47 days per year, the bill (which was introduced in the House in March) would expand that to as many as 120.
3- Immediately re-instate federal parole. Result, reduced prison population, reduced cost to taxpayer.
It may be possible to derive even greater benefit if H.R.1529, H.R.1475 and reinstatement of parole were combined into one bill. Certainly time and money would be saved by Congress only having to pass one piece of legislation rather than three.
4- Immediately correct the wording of the "Second Chance Act of 2007" (P.L. 110-199), signed into law April 9, 2008, by President Bush. The law "allows" the BOP to consider placing offenders in a halfway house for up to 12 months. Any rational person would consider this an opportunity to help offenders transition back to society and remove them from the prison population thus reducing overcrowding and taxpayer expense. BOP has elected to completely reject this option. The wording of the bill should be changed from "may" consider release, to "shall" consider release to a halfway house for 12 months or, if halfway house transition is considered un-necessary, as in the case of a person who has family support, requires no substance abuse or other treatment and has reasonable expectations of employment, to home confinement.
5-Immediately pass Sen. Webb's proposed legislation to initiate a study which will result in recommendations for a complete overhaul our judicial system but start with existing completed studies like "Smart on Crime: Recommendations for the Next Administration and Congress" by the 2009 Criminal Justice Coalition, in order to speed the process. Senator Schumer you are co-sponsor so what are you waiting for?
I submit that the answers and solutions to Criminal Justice Reform are not as hard as you and your colleagues would have the American people believe. I have just given you five ways to reduce the prison population and reduce the taxpayer’s burden in doing so while you can only recommend spending more of our money. "We The People" want you to start looking for reasonable, compassionate, cost effective solutions to our problems and stop throwing our money away on hearings and studies that produce no results and programs that do not work.
Matt Kelly in a post at Change.org said: "Throwing money at our always-expanding prison population won't make it go away and it won't address the systemic problems under which the system is sagging." Matt went on to say, "He knows there are many among the 205,000 federal prisoners in the U.S. who have served too much time already for nonviolent offenses."
The crowding problem at FCI Otisville is typical of many other prisons all across the country. Otisville was built for 844 prisoners and at the time of the Senators visit held 1,205.
I would like suggest to Senator Schumer, and the rest of his colleagues in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, several ways that prison overcrowding may be corrected without additional cost to the taxpayers:
1-Immediately pass out of committee and sign into law H.R. 1529 the "Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009" which will allow first time non-violent offenders to make application before the court to have their record expunged. By giving these ex-offenders a real "second chance" the recidivism rate will be greatly reduced resulting in a reduction of prison population and cost to the taxpayer. This legislation is the most important currently pending, as it will immediately allow thousands to seek relief thus allowing them to seek and gain meaningful employment.
2- Immediately pass out of committee and sign into law H.R. 1475 which will re-instate the good-time allowances for federal prisoners. Federal prisoners can currently earn a maximum of 47 days per year, the bill (which was introduced in the House in March) would expand that to as many as 120.
3- Immediately re-instate federal parole. Result, reduced prison population, reduced cost to taxpayer.
It may be possible to derive even greater benefit if H.R.1529, H.R.1475 and reinstatement of parole were combined into one bill. Certainly time and money would be saved by Congress only having to pass one piece of legislation rather than three.
4- Immediately correct the wording of the "Second Chance Act of 2007" (P.L. 110-199), signed into law April 9, 2008, by President Bush. The law "allows" the BOP to consider placing offenders in a halfway house for up to 12 months. Any rational person would consider this an opportunity to help offenders transition back to society and remove them from the prison population thus reducing overcrowding and taxpayer expense. BOP has elected to completely reject this option. The wording of the bill should be changed from "may" consider release, to "shall" consider release to a halfway house for 12 months or, if halfway house transition is considered un-necessary, as in the case of a person who has family support, requires no substance abuse or other treatment and has reasonable expectations of employment, to home confinement.
5-Immediately pass Sen. Webb's proposed legislation to initiate a study which will result in recommendations for a complete overhaul our judicial system but start with existing completed studies like "Smart on Crime: Recommendations for the Next Administration and Congress" by the 2009 Criminal Justice Coalition, in order to speed the process. Senator Schumer you are co-sponsor so what are you waiting for?
I submit that the answers and solutions to Criminal Justice Reform are not as hard as you and your colleagues would have the American people believe. I have just given you five ways to reduce the prison population and reduce the taxpayer’s burden in doing so while you can only recommend spending more of our money. "We The People" want you to start looking for reasonable, compassionate, cost effective solutions to our problems and stop throwing our money away on hearings and studies that produce no results and programs that do not work.
8 Comments:
that's great where have you submitted your ideas? try emailing and contacting all of the house reps in judiciary committee and subcommittee of homeland security. these bills are stuck there and need to be pushed there before being signed by president, check out fedcure.org. they are on top of the bills.
Where have these ideas been submitted you ask? To every place and every individual and group that you have mentioned many times over as well as many,many many,more than you can probably imagine. The problem seems to be that they all have their own agenda and if it was not their "idea" thay have no time for you. FedCure supports the "ideas" of congressman Danny Davis, HR 1475 but won't touch H.R. 1529. They say it won't help as many people. A personal letter/e-mail to every fedcure state leaders received not one response. FAMM has their agenda and on and on. A support H.R. 1529 Group at Yahoo Groups has three petition sites with nearly 1500 signatures that have generated over 3000 letters to Senators and Congressmen. Any more suggestions? I am willing to listen. Better yet join the Yahoo support group at http://bit.ly/maGAf and share your ideas.
I agree our jails and federal correction institutions are overcrowded by unecessary actions by BOP and our gov.This issue will continue to grow if not all the necessary actions are taken to observe and plan a solution to this problem.
Overcrowding tells me that coddling prisoners does NOT keep people from prison. Yes CODDLING! The picture posted on blogs looks more like the local rescue mission, except YOU get clean sheets and clean clothing! You have a TV set, books to read, a toilet, clean showers, weight lifting equipment, good food etc. That’s more then I have. So WHERE IS THE PUNISHMENT?
Alternatives to coddling: sleep on the ground (like I have to); no TV, radio, books, cigarettes, or wholesome food (I don't have those things, so why should YOU?); HARD WORK for everyone, every day, for at least 8 hours, even if it means breaking up rocks, or digging one hole to fill up another… just like every NORMAL person has to do on the outside. And they should be scrubbing the ceilings/walls/floors, bathrooms/showers, and washing their own clothes/dishes/towels/sheets too.
As a prisoner you have NO rights. You gave them up when you chose to do the crime. If prisons DID what they were set up to do, you would do everything possible to keep from having to go back! The prisons would NEVER be overcrowded. Instead, people clamor just to get IN, so they can have a warm bed, fresh hot food, clean clothes, showers, and a TV!
As an alternative to MY alternative: you may like the idea Grace has for a prison town.
See www.gracetowne.blogspot.com
Undercover, I don't think the posting here is about coddling. It's about a proposal that speeds the return of incarcerated people to productive lives where they pay their own way, contribute their share to taxes, help their communities.
I agree that if prisons did what they were set up to do we'd see a significant reduction in recidivism. However, there are other important elements to reducing recidivism, including making sure that ex-offenders are not stigmatized and kept from lawful employment.
Frankly, the tone of your response suggests that you've got some unresolved issues here. I see no support for your claim that people are clamoring to get into prison.
I am a federal wife. I would like to inform everyone reading that I support H.R 1475. I interact with many wives who just eventually stop supporting their husband due to the lenghty sentence and not to mention that there aren't any conjual visits. Most of our men and women are young and need affection. Nonetheless, families are left to cope alone for many years. People make mistakes and I feel that non violent offenders should be given a Real second chance at life.
I been in the system for a 3 month stay. the idiot that thinks i was coddled,would like to hear the truth. Read on. I spent 3 months in Prison and was not found guilty of any crime. I will be going to trail in a year or two. I was in the coddling prison for 8 days before i was able to even see my indictment. During the 2nd month I saw a immate killed during a fight,the guard attempted to help the person after that person took 22 minutes of beating and stabbing. That guys crime was he was hear illegaly. unless you been there please shut up. As a american I will never gave up my civil rights. to say that I should be submitted to other acts of violence due the overcrowding is pure hate or at the least ignorance. The point is that nobdy wins with non violent criminals sitting around doing nothing all day. The waste of money is icredible and the system the feds have set up is one that is about their ego, not justice. I've paid taxes all my life and after being in the system realize that the money is being thrown down the drain with all the other goverment ideas. here's a few ex. 1- the union wants longer sentences. they look at it as job security. 2- The goverment allows illegal imigrants to work inside the prison and get paid us dollars. (thats illegal for anyone else) 3- The race agenda, they make you cliam a race, white, black, mex, amer mex, or other. Just so that the immates can tell you the "way things are done around here". As an american i want people to know that the prison sytem is not helping them or the US Economy. It's killing the enconmy just like the war.
Imagin how much money we can save if 1475 goes to 66% Our states are in bad shape & we need to do something. This is a good start
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