The editorial I found on the Austin American Statesman
really stuck out to me. The Editorial Board applies a strong, logical appeal
towards this argument. Basically, Texas prisons and privately owned prisons are
taking a rough amount of $3.1 billion a year to keep these facilities running.
As if that number isn’t alarming enough, it’s worse to know that about 10,000
bunks in these prisons are being unused.
Prisons in the state of Texas used to be absolutely filled. There have been fewer incarcerations the past few years, however, due to the crime rates getting lower. Now that more people who get arrested can afford the court costs, tickets, etc., less people have to look at prison sentences. So why, exactly, are we throwing $3.1 billion a year at these facilities when half of them are being used? Economic dependence.
Most prisons are not closing down because they employ around 400 people EACH, and that would mean letting go of those people. Gregory Hooks disagrees on this matter, and believes that keeping these prisons open lessons the economic advantages. The jobs at prisons have low pay rates and less benefits, so there really is no “economic boom” that people believe. Senator John Whitmire proposes the claim that Texas should not renew contracts with prisons when they expire. There really is no point in spending tons of money on these excess, empty beds.
If we could shut a couple prisons down, and keep the others open and filled up completely, we could already save plenty of money. The money used right now towards these prisons could be helping educational facilities, health care for people who don’t have it, and enforcing public safety which would lower the crime rate overall…leading us more and more away from prisons. The audience this is aimed towards, the legislators, could, and I believe should, re-think where they are tossing their money. What is REALLY benefitting from keeping these prisons open?
Prisons in the state of Texas used to be absolutely filled. There have been fewer incarcerations the past few years, however, due to the crime rates getting lower. Now that more people who get arrested can afford the court costs, tickets, etc., less people have to look at prison sentences. So why, exactly, are we throwing $3.1 billion a year at these facilities when half of them are being used? Economic dependence.
Most prisons are not closing down because they employ around 400 people EACH, and that would mean letting go of those people. Gregory Hooks disagrees on this matter, and believes that keeping these prisons open lessons the economic advantages. The jobs at prisons have low pay rates and less benefits, so there really is no “economic boom” that people believe. Senator John Whitmire proposes the claim that Texas should not renew contracts with prisons when they expire. There really is no point in spending tons of money on these excess, empty beds.
If we could shut a couple prisons down, and keep the others open and filled up completely, we could already save plenty of money. The money used right now towards these prisons could be helping educational facilities, health care for people who don’t have it, and enforcing public safety which would lower the crime rate overall…leading us more and more away from prisons. The audience this is aimed towards, the legislators, could, and I believe should, re-think where they are tossing their money. What is REALLY benefitting from keeping these prisons open?
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