Death row inmates
Streamline the process for Death row inmates who have been found guilty. 10 plus years on death row on tax payers money. This process should take no more than 2 years.
62 votes
I disagreeStreamline the process for Death row inmates who have been found guilty. 10 plus years on death row on tax payers money. This process should take no more than 2 years.
34 votes
I disagreejails and prisons should be for violent offenders only. The U.S. has 5% of the worlds population and 25% of the world's incarcerated. 1 out of 100 people in the U.S. are in jail. We jail at a rate 7 times greater than countries in Europe. What is wrong with us? If we reduced our prison population/incarceration rate to the world's average, we would save an incredible amount of money. And we might even ...more »
jails and prisons should be for violent offenders only. The U.S. has 5% of the worlds population and 25% of the world's incarcerated. 1 out of 100 people in the U.S. are in jail. We jail at a rate 7 times greater than countries in Europe. What is wrong with us? If we reduced our prison population/incarceration rate to the world's average, we would save an incredible amount of money. And we might even become a more just society at the same time.
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34 votes
I disagreeTreat mental illness OUTSIDE the jails. Spokane's jail is the second largest mental institution in the state according to our Sheriff. Many of these people would not be in jail if they had homes, counseling, and medications. Whatcom county has developed a triage systems for people arrested and doesn't put all people with mental illness in jail. Consider this statewide. I'm sure medications cost a lot less ...more »
Treat mental illness OUTSIDE the jails. Spokane's jail is the second largest mental institution in the state according to our Sheriff. Many of these people would not be in jail if they had homes, counseling, and medications. Whatcom county has developed a triage systems for people arrested and doesn't put all people with mental illness in jail. Consider this statewide. I'm sure medications cost a lot less than $130 per day for jail housing.
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16 votes
I disagreeDrug addiction and alcohol addiction are public health issues and these people should not be in jail at a cost of $130 a day or $47000 per year. Let's fund public health instead.
-5 votes
I disagreeStop charging minors as adults on thier first offense. This would decrease the amount of money being spent by decreasing what has to be paid to house them longer since adult sentencing on all crimes is a stricter punishment. They are not old enough to live on thier own, buy tobacco products, sign a legal contract, get married or vote so why are they old enough to go to an adult prison and serve the same amount of time ...more »
Stop charging minors as adults on thier first offense. This would decrease the amount of money being spent by decreasing what has to be paid to house them longer since adult sentencing on all crimes is a stricter punishment. They are not old enough to live on thier own, buy tobacco products, sign a legal contract, get married or vote so why are they old enough to go to an adult prison and serve the same amount of time as an adult. Children and teens make mistakes and are much more impressionable to the prison systems than adults. Instead of giving a child a second chance, that is taking away any chance they have. This would of course need some stipulations such as not counting for repeat offenders or someone who committs a premeditated violent crime.
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-10 votes
I disagreeThe state I was born and raised in offered good time to prisoners on a day to day basis. They would knock 1 day off of a sentence for each day you stayed out of trouble. The time knocked off is still similar to a probationary period, however not only are inmates on good behavior, but that will help taxpayers by not having to house them as long. The "time off for good behavior" is also taken away if the inmate gets ...more »
The state I was born and raised in offered good time to prisoners on a day to day basis. They would knock 1 day off of a sentence for each day you stayed out of trouble. The time knocked off is still similar to a probationary period, however not only are inmates on good behavior, but that will help taxpayers by not having to house them as long. The "time off for good behavior" is also taken away if the inmate gets out of line and if they violate the terms of thier release they do serve the rest of the sentence.
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-11 votes
I disagreeAllow private industry to bid on the opportunity to take over the prison system and in turn allow them the opportunity to rent out prisoner labor to other industry for manufacturing or service jobs which are in no way in direct contact with the public. As an example, a ficticious company "ProtectCo" wins the bid through competitive process to take over the prison system in WA State. This cost to the State would be less ...more »
Allow private industry to bid on the opportunity to take over the prison system and in turn allow them the opportunity to rent out prisoner labor to other industry for manufacturing or service jobs which are in no way in direct contact with the public.
As an example, a ficticious company "ProtectCo" wins the bid through competitive process to take over the prison system in WA State. This cost to the State would be less than the cost to manage the prison system with State employees. So the State saves money while still getting the same (or better) level of service currently offered.
"ProtectCo" then offers up screened prisoners with varying skills through a program much like a Labor Ready service. Boeing, for example, might have skilled jobs, such as sewing seat cushion materials, or packaging bolts into containers, etc. which could be cheaper than having the jobs outsourced to China but still cheaper for Boeing than hiring non-prisoners. The program would educate and train prisoners, giving them a leg up when they are paroled, but also a portion of the wages could be used as reparations to the costs of prosecuting their crimes and to victims.
Safeguards could be in-place to keep the lower-cost prisoner jobs from competing with skilled tradespeople - one would not want to see higher-paid skilled jobs shifted from a non-prisoner to a prisoner workforce.
Another possibility is to allow "ProtectCo" to offer up prisoner laborers for pot hole and litter patrols State-wide to beautify the State of WA.
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