Articles & News

April 11, 2008

PRISON REFORM FINALLY GETS MOVING

PRISON REFORM in Pennsylvania got shoved into the 21st century, thanks to a package of proposed laws the House passed this week.

That's more than can be said about the weak gun-control laws approved by the same body at the same time. When it comes to guns, too many Pennsylvania legislators, no matter what their constituents say, refuse to see beyond the 18th century and the good ol' days of the lone frontiersman.

But real prison reform, locally and nationally, is on a contemporary track of change. It's being driven by sky-rocketing prison costs (states spent $44 billion in 2007), overcrowded jails and prisons (one in 100 adults - and one in nine black men ages 20 to 34 - is behind bars) and high recidivism (more than two-thirds of the 650,000 prisoners released from jail each year are rearrested within three years).

Philadelphia bears a big burden: Among big cities, it has the highest rate of incarceration with a prison budget of $218 million.

Something is definitely wrong.

The state reforms mark a fundamental shift in incarceration philosophy - from a mind-set of "lock 'em up" and build more jails, to one that encourages rehabilitation, jobs, education, drug-and-alcohol counseling so ex-cons can return better equipped to re-establish themselves in society.

In fact, President Bush this week signed the "Second Chance Act of 2007," which authorizes $165 million for post-release treatment programs and creates a National Re-entry Resource Center to help groups and organizations with re-entry programs.

Pennsylvania's four bills, H.B. 4, 5, 6 and 7, which have been sent to the Senate, could reduce overcrowding; open more prison beds in Philadelphia and other counties by sending to state prison and jails inmates sentenced to two or more years (this would open up about 400 beds in Philadelphia); allow judges to assign "recidivism risk reduction" sentences that can deduct 25 percent from an inmate's term if the judge deems him eligible and no threat to the neighborhoods; and provides programs to prepare ex-cons to re-enter the world. There is also a compassionate take: H.B. 7 allows sick prisoners to spend their final days in long-term nursing facilities or in hospice care.

The overwhelming support for these laws shows House members are eager to change the culture of incarceration. Their Senate colleagues should be just as eager, and vote in favor of the bills. *