The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

Currently the state's 32 prisons are operating at 132 percent of their designed inmate capacity. The two state prisons in Warren County on Friday were holding inmates at 73 and 76 percent above their designed capacity.

The annual cost to house an inmate is $24,875.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters stopped short of criticizing a fellow Republican, but said the bill would compromise safety and if the budget needs relief, cuts should be made elsewhere.

"The problem with any of these laws is they are entirely budget driven, and not safety driven," Deters said.

"Bill is one of the best legislators I have ever met, he is very smart and he is looking for ways to get money out of the budget, but he is looking in the wrong place," Deters said.

"The first job of government is to protect its citizens, and a viable prison system is critical to community safety."

Seitz, who served nearly eight years in the Ohio house before moving to the Senate in 2007, said reform has been needed for years.

But the budget crisis means the legislature has to act now, he said.

Seitz's bill mirrors proposals by the Strickland administration.

Gov. Ted Strickland's two-year budget, which must be passed by June 30, proposes spending $3.65 billion in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 to run prisons. Collins said there is about $10 million in the state budget for counties to fund community-correction programs, including halfway houses.

Strickland's budget bill recommends sentencing people to alternative programs for failing to pay child support, freeing 527 prison beds annually; increasing from one to seven days per month the possible earned credit time for eligible inmates, freeing 2,644 prison beds; redefining supervision for parole violators, freeing 591 prison beds; and raising the felony theft thresholds from $500 to $750, freeing 300 prison beds.

Those and other reforms could eventually save $29 million and reduce the prison population by 6,736 annually, according to budget estimates.

Former Gov. Bob Taft closed Lima and Orient correctional institutions in 2002-03. No decision has been made about what state prison would be the next to close.

The Seitz bill varies slightly from Strickland's proposal, reducing earned credit to five days a month instead of seven. Violent offenders and sex offenders would not be eligible for good-time credits.

"There are many things for Democrats and Republicans to fight about in this budget," Seitz said. "I hope this is not one of them."

Seitz said the reforms do not compromise safety.

"We all want to increase the penalties for this and that," Seitz said. "And it might be warranted, but where is the money? The prison budget has been cut, cut, cut."

Something has to give, he added.

Then he borrowed a line from Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Terry Collins: "We have to figure out who is truly bad and who we are just mad at."

Collins praised Seitz's bill.

"I appreciate the fact that (Seitz) understands the critical urgency we have in the Department of Corrections," Collins said. "He certainly knows the legislative process better than I, and I certainly appreciate his concern about if we can do something quicker than waiting for the next state budget, which begins July 1."

Collins told the House Finance Committee on Thursday that sentencing reforms such as the Seitz bill could divert more offenders from crowded state prisons while easing the state's budget crisis.

"Judges have used these diversions well," Collins told The Enquirer. "Their problem is that they need more dollars for alternatives to prison."

Collins said sentencing reforms will take some time.

But he said some programs are already in place, citing Talbert House and River City, both in Hamilton County. But he said such programs need additional state money.

David Singleton, director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, a criminal justice watchdog and advocacy organization, said reforms are needed.

"Bill Seitz is proving himself to be a leader for smart-on-crime reform in the state and we are delighted that he is leading on this," Singleton said.

Singleton said Seitz's willingness to work with the governor shows criminal justice reform can cross the political aisle.

"This is not going to make us less safe, it will make sure we are not wasting money incarcerating people who can be better served in a community setting," Singleton said. "It's a very smart bill."

"Is there more that can be done?" Seitz said.

"Yes there is, and this bill may be amended."

Seitz said sentencing disparities for people convicted of crack cocaine versus powder cocaine crimes must be corrected, that judges need more authority over judicial release, and that inmates at the end of their sentences should transition into community-based correctional facilities.

Singleton predicts that the bill will make progress and said Seitz has the clout to get it passed.

Hearings could start as soon as next month, Seitz said.

"Until people put their money where their mouth is on criminal sentences, there is no other choice," Seitz said.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090216/NEWS0108/902160318