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?
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