PRISONS WORTH MONEY

It seems that many of the counties in South Carolina and the United States
are finding their confinement facilities over-crowded and in desperate need
of additional facilities. These cost a great deal. Estimates from $60,000
to $120,000 per bed are in the ballpark. And naturally some of the
taxpayers are less than happy that we are spending such vast amounts of
resources on those who continue to break our laws.

But let us look at the cost if we fail to keep most of these persons
incarcerated.

It's estimated that crack or drug addicts will steal, rob and pilfer from
$200 to $1,000 daily to feed their habits. And what is the cost for some
drug pusher getting teenagers or young adults and even children hooked on
their deadly product? How many lives beyond the drug user's are adversely
affected by his/her conduct?

Moreover, some refer to drug users and pushers as "nonviolent," but I don't
think so. They create the violence that infects our society. And as for the
robbers, assaulters and fathers who elect to not support their children,
why should they walk around when others suffer because of their actions?

The judges in this area understand well our problems and try to ensure
sufficient bail is required if a charged person is released. We must
understand that the set bail is not any insurance that this individual will
not commit another crime but is to ensure presence at trial.

Our confinement personnel do a great job under all of the circumstances,
and we should thank them daily that those they look after are not running
the streets.

I was reared around the largest penitentiary in the state of Georgia and
dealt with the inmates daily. From my experience, I certainly do not think
that we have a better class of inmate now. And it is not all poverty and
lack of education, although I do applaud more education for those who want
to learn.

It takes money to build the prisons, to train the guards, to educate and to
teach skills so that the recidivism is lowered. Let's give the money to
protect all of the citizens, guards, teachers and inmates and their
families. I'd rather be taxed for this than many of the "full moon" ideas
that some officials hatch.

K.G. WATSON

Colonel, U.S., Army, (Retired)

U.S. Army