ATTACK ON PRISONS WAS UNFOUNDED

Robert Batey's attack on prisons ("There's a prison industrial complex at
work in Florida," Aug. 21) merely recycles discredited claims that prisons
are government tools to hold down disenfranchised segments of our society.
Of course, that is false. Citizens demanded safer neighborhoods, so elected
officials adopted a tough-on-crime mentality that contributes to lower
crime rates.

Batey believes the public-private prison system adds to out-of-control
spending in Florida. The facts say otherwise. By utilizing innovative
partnerships in corrections and treatment, Florida is actually spending
less to house inmates.

In 1997, Florida's average daily expense to house an inmate was $50.51. By
2002, that cost declined to $48.13 a day. This saves nearly $869 each year
per inmate or $66.6 million in annual savings for Florida's taxpayers.

So before Batey talks again about Florida's prison system, I suggest he
descend from his ivory tower and meet the people who live in Miami,
Tallahassee and other metropolitan areas. He might be surprised to learn
that they are thankful the bad guys are in jail, making them safer.

ANDREW T. LEFEVRE,Executive director,Association of Private Correctional
and Treatment Organizations, dtli@aol.com