Marijuana Policy Project

A state legislative commission, created by former Gov. Roy Barnes, set out to find ways of conducting the business of crime and punishment more fairly and economically. Its review of sentencing laws passed when being "tough on crime" was a ticket to political office was particularly timely in the face of an alarming budget crisis.

Gov. Sonny Perdue has replaced that 19-member commission with an informal working group, primarily professionals from the judicial system, but hasn't given it a definite timetable or deadline for implementing new policies.

Georgia's prison policies must serve both justice and the taxpayer. Certainly incorrigible, violent offenders must be kept off the streets as long as possible. But Georgia's "tough on crime" attitude deals out lengthy sentences to so many nonviolent drug and property crime offenders that some violent criminals are released early to make room. The U.S. Department of Justice reports Georgia's prison population at 50,922 in May. That's 9.5 percent over capacity.

Georgia needs to find ways to reduce prison population that will save money, assure public safety and return some degree of balance to penal policies.

Perdue's working group must ask if prison is the right place for most nonviolent offenders. With those incarcerated on drug charges, they make up 47 percent of Georgia's prison population. Lowered sentencing guidelines and alternative sentencing solutions for nonviolent and drug offenders would free prison space for violent criminals and save money.

Alternative sentencing programs also can prevent nonviolent offenders from leaving prison schooled into hardened criminals by those with whom they were incarcerated.

Georgia's three-strikes laws are counterproductive in practice, however good in theory. They drain public coffers and also harden lesser offenders.

Barnes' original commission recommended reduced sentences for property crimes and drug offenses, paired with longer sentences for sex offenders and violent criminals. Perdue's working group should follow suit.

Viewing drug offenses as a public health problem rather than a crime is not an idea whose time has arrived. But is it reasonable to put nonviolent addicts behind bars rather than providing them with treatment? The high rate of recidivism among drug offenders suggests that it's neither rehabilitative nor cost-effective. More cost-effective punishments are available.

"Tough on crime" platforms appeal to lawmakers, but at about $20,000 per year per inmate, overzealous incarceration doesn't promote public safety, just poorer taxpayers. Let's free prison space for violent criminals and place nonviolent offenders in more cost-effective facilities or alternative types of punishment.

© 2003 The Macon Telegraph Publishing Company

Newshawked-by: chip

Posted-by: Tom