STATE PRISON, JUDICIAL SYSTEMS NEED REFORM

The state budget deficit presents an opportunity for Wisconsin to redefine
the role of its justice system and state prisons.

As reported Sunday and Monday by Oshkosh Northwestern reporter Karl Ebert,
Wisconsin has a rising prison population that has contributed to the state
deficit.

Present estimates peg the state budget deficit at $3.2 billion, and about 7
percent of the budget is used for prisons. The cost of prisons rose from
$337 million in 1995 to $846 million at present. The prison population of
6,000 inmates in 1987 rose to 21,554 as of Friday.

Two trends are on a collision course: increased prison costs and decreased
revenue. The time for reform is now.

Alternatives to prison must include intensive sanctions program. These
programs cost about $1,200 compared to monthly costs of about $2,000 to
$2,600 for minimum, medium or maximum prison incarceration.

Along with the argument for intensive sanctions is the call for
community-based programs to rehabilitate prisoners. Data shows a growing
number of non-violent offenders enter prison. Their presence steers dollars
away from more effective community-based treatment programs and crime
prevention programs.

This is not a call for broad-based release of non-violent offenders. Budget
deficits make this tempting. All we will do is create grounds for future
budget deficits, with uncorrected problems.

Statistics show that people who enter prison for long periods of time
become repeat offenders once released. That's hardly the appropriate
outcome for someone who developed a habit of writing bad checks or an
occasional drug user.

Additionally, the state must acknowledge that the conventional war on drugs
is failing. The fact that 63.3 percent of Wisconsin drug offenders are
black raises a question if drug laws are being fairly enforced. When the
black population of Wisconsin is 5.6 percent, this is a horrible disparity.

The developing picture is that the state's criminal justice system
sentences people into prison who may not need to be there if alternative
programs were available. New guidelines for judges in sentencing issued
last week will help in a significant way. However, we cannot blame problems
on judges. We must, as a state, assume responsibility and reform our system.

It is a sad day in Wisconsin when a budget deficit forces a debate that
should have taken place years ago.

The payoff, though, will a judicial system that protects our communities
from violent criminals but also has alternatives to prison for non-violent
offenders. Now is a good time to start that discussion.

The Final Thought: Much works needs to be done to make sure Wisconsin's
prisoner population is doing time to fit the crime.