PRISONS: A FAILED PROGRAM

Few government experiments in Florida ever have worked as poorly as house
arrests.

About 200,000 criminals have served time at home since 1983, under the
stipulation that they weren't to leave their property except to go to work
and run errands such as buying groceries. More than half broke those rules.

The Associated Press, citing an Orlando Sentinel article, reports:

"At least 234 people were killed by criminals who were supposed to be under
house arrest over the two-decade span of the program. Criminals violating
house arrest committed 538 sexual crimes during the same period.

"And nearly 5,000 criminals, including 14 killers, fled while under house
arrest and have never been recaptured."

House arrest sounds nice. It supposedly allows criminals to have useful
lives, and earn money for restitution, while saving public money. House
arrest costs only $11 a day, compared to $50 for incarceration in prison.
However, it relies on a convict's willingness to abide by the rules --
something that he obviously hasn't done in the past.

Incredibly, only 6 percent of those under house arrest are required to wear
electronic tracking bracelets.

If it is to continue, the program should be scaled back and safeguards added.

With billions of new dollars needed to fund three expensive constitutional
mandates, there will be intense pressure to cut costs even more in the
corrections budget. That must not be allowed.

The first and foremost job of any government is to protect its citizens.
Any other function pales in comparison.