IOWA DOESN'T NEED NEW STATE PRISON

Gov. Tom Vilsack and some other political leaders wanted the state to
build a new maximum security prison in Fort Madison to replace the
old one. They argue that a new facility is justified, in part because
of the security and other problems that drew national attention when
two inmates escaped in November.

This week, however, an Iowa legislative committee that oversees the
operating budget for the state corrections department said there's no
money to build a new prison, which would cost an estimated $80 million.

The committee's decision appears to kill the proposal, at least for this year.

Good.

We think it's a mistake to rush into building a new prison after one
high-profile incident. Swift, knee-jerk responses do not serve the
long-term interest of this state's residents and taxpayers.

Yes, there were some problems at the prison that needed fixing. It is
an aging facility that undoubtedly will have to be replaced some day.

But even Gary Maynard, the Department of Corrections director who had
recommended building a new prison, acknowledged this week that his
department can effectively operate the Fort Madison facility by
making some physical changes and repairs and improving security procedures.

Meanwhile, the bigger problem is the number of people going to
prison. The state's inmate population has hovered around the total
prison capacity for several years, and already has forced
construction of more prison space, such as the facility in Fort Dodge.

The root of this problem lies elsewhere. You can blame increased drug
and alcohol addiction, more single-parent families, too many
biological fathers who don't parent or stay committed to their
spouses, or Iowa's status as having one of the nation's highest rates
of families with both parents employed full-time outside of the home
take your pick or choose several.

It's evidenced by troubling statistics, such as one of every four
black men in Iowa has been convicted of a felony. Or the rising
number of families devastated by methamphetamine addiction over the
past decade. Or, a state that is increasingly addicted to gambling as
entertainment and tax revenue.

Iowa leaders and our communities, our neighborhoods, should put the
focus on education, prevention and treatment.

And, if necessary, throw an additional $80 million toward those kinds
of initiatives rather than just build another prison to fill up with
more prisoners. After all, what will cost Iowans more in the long run?