OVERCROWDING

Hinds Co., Prisons In Same Boat

Crowding in both the Hinds County Detention Center and the state prison
system result from the same malady: inadequate policies and a lack of
strategic thinking.

Hinds County faces federal fines and having to let inmates go free due to
holding more than the 594 inmates allowed.

In the prison system, the state faces continuing budget deficits as inmates
swell beyond 20,000.

In both governments, incarceration policies have caused the problems rather
than confronted them.

In the county, for years, officials have known that pretrial detainees were
overwhelming the criminal justice system - from arrest to indictment to
trial. Some 591 of the 663 inmates held this week were pretrial detainees,
that is, those who have not been formally charged or tried in court.

In the state, for years, officials have known that too many were being sent
behind bars for the state's available beds. It's estimated that by 2012 the
2003 inmate population of 20,227 will rise above the system's capacity to
23,594.

At least now, with state and local budgets tight, officials in both
governmental arenas are starting to take action.

In the county, Supervisors President Doug Anderson has it right: "Either we
need to lower the number of people in jail or bite the bullet and build
more jails and give the district attorney more help."

The county is pursuing probation for first-time, non-violent offenders in a
two-year program. State Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps says in such
programs in Harrison and Pearl River counties: "Out of the 58 cases they
handled, only 16 returned, which is a recidivism rate of 20 percent,
compared to the national average of 70 percent."

This, with recommendations a consultant gave in 2001, would be the type of
strategic thinking that's needed.

Lawmakers took a needed step last year in relaxing the rule on first-time
offenders that inmates serve at least 85 percent of sentences. New options
include:

a.. Adopting uniform sentencing guidelines statewide;

b.. Increasing work programs around the state;

c.. Allowing trusties quicker release. The state should also consider:

d.. More alternative sentencing options up front;

e.. Creating a statewide system of drug courts that would funnel first-time
offenders into treatment.

Local and state governments will find that this type of strategic thinking,
rather than "lock 'em up and throw away the key," is a more efficient use
of tax dollars. This doesn't mean that criminals should go free - just the
opposite. More options require more monitoring, but at less cost. Those who
fail would still face prison time.

But a strategic approach toward salvaging those who can be helped is less
costly to society and satisfies criminal justice's goals: punishment,
restitution and rehabilitation.