Indiana debating prison expansion plans proposed by Governor

Another interesting story in prison economy nation is reported in this AP article from Indiana, headlined “Daniels’ proposed prison expansions draw doubts.”  Here are a few details:

Faced with tight budgets and prison overcrowding, states across the nation are considering whether to release prisoners early.  But in Indiana, the Daniels administration is looking to add space to existing prisons to help keep the growing number of inmates behind bars.

The lean budget proposed by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels includes just two new building projects over the next two years — expansions of the Miami Correctional Facility near Peru and the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility near Sullivan.  Each would be expanded by 600 beds, and the state would make $3 million in bond payments to cover the $40 million in construction.

Daniels says public safety must be one of government’s top priorities. “We are not going to turn felons out of prison early where they can prey on the public,” Daniels said. “That’s happening in other states, and we’re not going to let it happen here.”

Democrats who control the House have questioned whether the prison expansions are really necessary, especially since the proposed budget doesn’t contain any new money for K-12 education and would make cuts in many state agencies and higher education.  Some say the state should be investing in education and alternative sentencing programs that could help people avoid prison in the first place. “It’s the wrong emphasis,” said Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary.  “We need to rethink what we’re doing in this state.”…

Indiana’s prisons are currently at about 99 percent of capacity, according to department officials. The state’s prison population of about 27,000 grows by about 4 percent a year, or about 1,000 inmates.  At lower-security prisons, some inmates are already sleeping in triple-stacked bunk beds to save space…. By 2010, the state will be about 2,000 beds short in prisons with higher security levels…

Indiana’s growing prison population stems from several factors, [Department of Correction Commissioner Edwin] Buss said, such as crime rates and mandatory sentencing laws.  The increasing number of prisoners hasn’t stopped lawmakers from considering proposals that would keep people behind bars even longer. In past legislative sessions, Republicans have proposed requiring inmates to serve 85 percent of their sentences, rather than potentially earning a day off for each day of good behavior.  Democrats questioned what the cost would be and how much more prison space would be needed, and the proposals didn’t pass. “We continue to want to get tough on crime,” said Rep. Dennis Avery, D-Evansville. “It costs money.”

Daniels points out that Indiana is better financial shape than many other states, and has not had to turn to drastic measures such as releasing prisoners early.  Other states are considering early release or are already implementing such programs.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to eliminate parole for some offenders, divert more petty criminals to county jails and grant early release to more inmates. In Kentucky, even some murderers and other violent offenders are benefiting from a temporary cost-saving program that has granted early release to nearly 2,000 inmates. Virginia and New York are also considering early release programs for thousands of inmates.