Expensive 'justice'

Engler should fund crime prevention

Crime doesn't pay, but it certainly costs money. Gov. John Engler's budget recommendation for the fiscal year 2000 has drawn criticism from polticians and citizens alike who question the large increases in prison funding and the relatively small increases for education. It can be argued that the budget proposal is appropriate - larger funds are necessary to support prison systems that are housing more and more prisoners. But within this rationale lies the problem that increased corrections funding for larger prisons does not equate to less crime. Engler needs to look into different ways to allocate funds for crime prevention.

Engler can start reforming corrections funding by modifying the sentencing laws that Michigan currently uses. In an average month, about 1,000 people enter Michigan prisons, and about 850 people come out. The overall increase in the prison population each month is due less to the housing of more violent criminals than it is to the accumulation of non-violent criminals serving longer sentences. Although Engler cannot do much about federal three-strike laws that keep low-level offenders locked up too long, he can reform the longer sentences and mandatory minimum laws that result in crowded state prisons. With about one-third of prisoners having already served their minimum sentences, a reduction in the length of sentences would not only alleviate pressure on the prisons but on the budget as well.

Engler also needs to look into more rehabilitation and prevention programs. Although an increased prison population may seem like a solution to combat crime, it is not the answer. Increasing the prison population only temporarily solves the problem - prevention programs, on the other hand, stop the problem before it begins. A good start would be to increase funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation and prevention programs across the state. A recent statistic from The Detroit Free Press shows that four out of five adults in prison committed crimes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Increasing the availability of drug and alcohol programs across the state will certainly help decrease the number of crimes committed. Furthermore, Engler should allocate more funds to education and rehabilitation programs for current prisoners. Prisons do little to prepare their residents for life after prison. The result is that prisoners go back to what they already know - crime. Increased educational and reform programs in prisons would help lower the crime rate by reducing the number of repeat offenders.

In addition to rehabilitation programs, Engler should look into other measures to prevent crime such as new gun control laws and putting more police on the streets. Although the Brady Bill, which mandates a five-day waiting period for the purchase of a handgun, has done much to curb the use of guns in crime, Engler would be wise to go even further.

Funding to the Department of Corrections would exceed funding to all 15 state universities combined under Engler's proposal. A few years ago, about nine percent of the budget was alloted for the Department of Corrections. This year, the figure is expected to be twice that much. Simple math tells anyone that such increases cannot continue without taking away from other budget-funded programs, such as education. Instead of increasing funding to house more prisoners with longer and longer sentences, Engler needs to cut to the heart of the problem. Prevention and education programs will do more to stop crime and keep appropriations at a manageable level.

02-22-99