Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin believes recommendations in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative released earlier this week can make a difference here in West Virginia.
The report focused on ways to reduce the prison population in West Virginia. Tomblin, who requested the study from the Center for Social Justice last year, did so because similar studies in North Carolina and Texas have made great improvements in those states.
“They had the similar overcrowding problems. They followed the recommendations of the Justice Center study and now they have a surplus of beds,” Tomblin said Thursday at the state capitol.
Following the Justice Center recommendations, Texas’ prison population dropped by 8,000 and recidivism was reduced by 25 percent. The state invested $220 million but ended up saving $440 million.
The Justice Center’s recommendations for West Virginia include spending $25 million for drug abuse programs and placing parolees on community supervision. Both are aimed at keeping inmates from re-offending once they’re on the outside.
“If we do a better job making sure when the inmates are released they are prepared to go back into the work place, back into the communities and not continue to rely on drugs. we’ll be able to reduce our [prison] population substantially,” according to Tomblin.
Currently the state houses more than 5,000 inmates in 13 facilities across West Virginia. But nearly 1,800 of those remain in the regional jail system because of prison overpopulation. Tomblin believes following the suggestions of Justice Center will dramatically reduce that.
“We’re hoping to implement many of those changes in West Virginia. Obviously it would be much cheaper than building a 200 million-plus facility and then having to staff it and keep it up,” the governor said.
The Legislature will tackle the report during its upcoming session.
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Comments
David
I have an idea-
Bring back chain gangs.
January 24, 2013 at 1:31 pm | Report comment
Docbegone
“If we do a better job making sure when the inmates are released they are prepared to go back into the work place, back into the communities and not continue to rely on drugs. we’ll be able to reduce our [prison] population substantially,” according to Tomblin.
The problem runs much deeper than drug abuse. Most of these inmates don't want to work. Drugs are only part of their hedonistic mentality. You can teach inmates skills, but you can't make them WILLING to work. There is a difference. Ten years from now this will prove an exercise in futility.
January 24, 2013 at 1:52 pm | Report comment
Shadow
He obviously doesn't spend much time watching the ID Channel studying crime and repeat criminals. Repeating crime is the standard.
January 24, 2013 at 2:26 pm | Report comment
PT
This is a great decision by Tomblin. The prison population in the United States is out of hand. Most of the inmates (84%) are in for non-violent offenses and the taxes pay for it all. Rehabilitate and reduce the population. I don't care if someone is using drugs as long as they aren't hurting anybody else.
January 24, 2013 at 4:33 pm | Report comment
J
Finally, an intelligent post. People want to make drugs illegal so their family won't use them. Let people make their own choice. Their radical ideas are why I voted for Obama even though that was the last thing in the world I wanted to do. I don't want illegals coming in getting welfare and social security. The conservatives have alienated about 60% of the population and they might never regain significance again.
January 26, 2013 at 10:07 am | Report comment
Levelheaded
Most of these people aren't in jail for using drugs. They are in jail for stealing or fighting and domestic abuse.
January 31, 2013 at 3:25 am | Report comment
Mountainman
I would think it would be a better idea and would better serve the public to reduce the supply of drugs as opposed increasing the demand for them....
January 24, 2013 at 4:52 pm | Report comment
JimJim
You mean Uncle Jeffro may get out????
January 24, 2013 at 7:20 pm | Report comment
JimJim
Really, "If we do a better job making sure when the inmates are released they are prepared to go back into the work place" Where are the jobs?
January 24, 2013 at 7:22 pm | Report comment
Larry
I have a better idea....bring back the death penalty. The threat of jail time is no longer a deterrent.
January 24, 2013 at 9:24 pm | Report comment
biff
Neither is the death penalty. The deterrent effect in general has been proven to only be effective at reducing recidivism in only ~13% of convicts.
January 25, 2013 at 8:41 am | Report comment
JustTheFacts
Just another example of a politician who doesn't live in the real world! Folks, it's up to us under the Castle Doctrine to make sure that these drug addicts don't get the chance to repeat offend and hurt someone else just because the justice system is nothing more than a revolving door for these scumbags! Who needs a state death penality when the good people of West Virginia are capable of carrying out that role since the justice system is refusing to since it's in their better interest not too!
January 25, 2013 at 9:30 am | Report comment
J
Did you see the results of the election. Your radical views are making conservatives a minority. I don't agree with all liberal ideas like letting illegals stay here with welfare and social security, but you all are a dying breed.
January 26, 2013 at 10:04 am | Report comment
biff
Did you all not read the article? This is not about adopting something that might work in theory, its about making changes to our system that have already worked and produced positive results in other states. Instead of complaining about politics you should be encouraging the adoption of these changes as quickly as possible. They will make you safer and save taxpayers millions of dollars.
January 25, 2013 at 2:07 pm | Report comment
Tim C
Bring back the death penalty ...that would get rid of a few anyway.
January 25, 2013 at 5:39 pm | Report comment
Smokey
I agree with Tim C. Bring back the death penalty, it would reduce the prison population.
January 25, 2013 at 6:43 pm | Report comment
Chad
Trying to rehabilitate drug offenders is a much more viable option than bankrupting the state by building more prisons. The reason the prisons are overcrowded, Mount Olive as an example is full of child molesters. Another option is to charge more taxes, to build a prison. I would like to see parole boards work closely with prison staff to identify the offenders who are living productive lives within the walls of the prison. Also I think an idea would be building more work release centers and putting them to work and providing the workers pay to pay for the housing they live in. Trust me I have worked in a prison, most will lie, cheat, rob, steal and do whatever when they get out except lead a productive life.
January 25, 2013 at 8:57 pm | Report comment
J
Violent, sexual, and theft crimes should be punished harshly. If drugs were legal and people could get jobs, we would have a 70% reduction in our prison population. If people overdose that is one less person we have to worry about. Instead of the Mexican, Columbian, Dominican cartels getting rich, we can use that money to fix bridges, roads, and improve school systems.
January 26, 2013 at 10:01 am | Report comment
Keith
If jobs were available and they are not, they do not want to work anyway.
January 26, 2013 at 11:37 am | Report comment