Prisons Eat Up Tax Dollars

Rehabilitation Failures Lead To Repeat Crimes: Is Public Truly Better
Protected?

GOING THROUGH MOTIONS

As secretary for the Department of Corrections, Jon Litscher guessed that
between 60 and 80 percent of Wisconsin's inmates were incarcerated as a
result of substance abuse. Alcohol and other drugs are a contributing
factor leading to imprisonment, and there appears to be a renewed push
towards treatment. This looks like a good idea on paper, but come walk the
halls of our prisons.

While not all of Wisconsin's inmates fall into this category, all too often
I've heard the comments and seen the actions of offenders reluctant to take
advantage of the opportunities afforded them inside our prisons. Just
enough effort is put forth to complete the program requirements, and that's it.

An "early release program" has been proposed to take the place of the old
parole program, abolished when truth-in-sentencing came into play. Some
folks see truth-in-sentencing as a mistake. Under the old law, program
requirements had to be met before an inmate was eligible for parole. The
speculation is that the same will be true for ERP. Some will retain and use
the information presented in these programs; some will merely regurgitate
rhetoric.

All too often, we see the same people come through our facilities again and
again, inmates who have received programs and treatment but don't seem to
care. You can lead a horse to water. . .

Sgt. Paul H. Oosterhouse, correctional officer

Dodge Correctional Institution