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November 23, 2008
MA: "Reform is Needed" letter by Barbara Dougan of FAMM
Letters to the Editor - The Boston Globe
Reform is needed
November 23, 2008
"PRISON TO double-bunk inmates" highlights the urgent need for sentencing reform in Massachusetts. Our prisons are bursting, due in large part to costly and inflexible mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses. Almost 17 percent of state prisoners are serving a mandatory sentence, a 32 percent increase over the past 10 years. Many are serving these harsh sentences for first-time, nonviolent offenses. These prisoners are also ineligible for parole or participation in work-release programs, which are key tools to relieve prison overcrowding.
Massachusetts currently spends, on average, about $48,000 per year on each state prisoner. Building new prisons is costly too - about $1 million for each new prison bed. Repealing mandatory minimums for drug offenders would lead to significant savings of taxpayer dollars.
Harold Clarke, commissioner of the Department of Correction, is correct to say that costly prison space should be for those who pose a public safety risk, not for those needing drug treatment or for low-level offenders. The coming legislative session offers the Commonwealth an opportunity to save money by adopting sensible sentencing reform.
Barbara J. Dougan
Newton
The writer is Massachusetts project director with Families Against Mandatory Minimums.
Posted by lois at November 23, 2008 02:42 PM