RI Prosecutes 17-Year-Olds to Save Money

[Judi Lynn]

Source: ABC News/Associated Press

RI Prosecutes 17-Year-Olds to Save Money
R.I. Prosecutes Teens As Adults in Cost-Cutting Move That Might Not Save As Much As Hoped
By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press Writer
PROVIDENCE, R.I. Jul 13, 2007 (AP)

When state legislators passed a law last month requiring that 17-year-olds be tried as adults, they hoped the reduced cost of providing for adult prisoners rather than juveniles would save the state about $3.6 million.

But almost immediately, prison officials said they didn't think the move would save any money, and critics around the country denounced it as shortsighted and wrong.

Gov. Don Carcieri, a Republican, proposed the change earlier this year as a way to close a $450 million budget shortfall. It costs an average of $40,000 a year to house an inmate at the state prison less than half the $98,000 it costs to put a teen through the Rhode Island Training School, where juveniles attend classes and receive rehabilitative services.

The Democratic-dominated General Assembly reluctantly approved the change last month despite a late effort by Senate members to prevent it from taking effect.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3373391

[rodeodance]

1. and the Dems 'reluctantly' went along with lock em up mentality!!

[Cobalt Violet]

5. I hate that.

I wish Dems would stop doing that and stand up for what's right for a change.

[saigon68]

10. Another way to "discipline" the dark skinned ones

[Javaman]

8. And the enablers strike again. nt

[xchrom]

2. housing 17 year old boys with grown men

is a good idea how?

i can't believe this went through.

[sam sarrha]

3. I am LIVID..!! this is a Draconian Fascist move to dehumanize for profit

as an X-juvenile parole officer, ..the system is broken to begin with.. this is a Reich Wing Draconian move to further destroy the juvenile system.. i have had 17 year olds certified as adults.. we left them in county jail in isolation for a month for two.. ran them through the adult courts and put them on probation.. as a last resort, last chance...but the reThugs will want to put 14 year olds in soon, because they are evil and perverts.. knowing what will happen to the children gives them a hard-on.

the united states was condemed by the UN for using homosexual rape as torture in our prisons

there is NO SUCH THING AS RELUCTANTLY CORVORTING WITH REPUBLICANS... agreeing with perverted NAZI FASCIST BASTARDS.. you just become one

[Solly Mack]

4. reluctantly

sheesh

[formercia]

6. Putting a juvenile in an adult prison population

is like throwing meat to a pack of Hyenas.

If they weren't screwed-up before, that will finish them.

[Chemical Bill]

11. It turns out that the 17 year olds will be segregated...

which costs more than the usual inmate costs. We won't be saving any money. I'd give them an F for effort.

Bill

[formercia]

15. Do they get education and counseling?

Otherwise they will be more skilled at crime when they leave.

This whole thing sounds like a real goat fuck.

[lonestarnot]

7. Really makes me wonder what the fuck!

[OregonBlue]

9. Way to solve the long-term N.J. crime problem. They're making career criminals

out of young men. Maybe they should also vote that on release, these young men are required to leave the state, then it could be someone else's problem!!

[coalition_unwilling]

13. Welcome to the prison-industrial (congressional) complex -n/t

[Bo]

12. Why does the USA love Caging people up so much?

It is completely out of hand here in the south, people are locked up for the dumbest things. Are society is sick.

[depakid]

14. "...a Republican, proposed the change."

Expect problems any time you hear that...

[slampoet]

16. I wouldn't mind this as much if they were sending 80 and 90 year olds that kill people to jail.

But they aren't. Instead the old people get to plea that prison would be BAD for them.

Actually i would still be a ticked off. I'm just blowing off steam as i am more pissed off than usual today.


I wonder how my neighbor feels about this, she's a prison guard.

Remember this involves sending 17 yr olds to GIRLS prison too.

[Odin2005]

17. ASSHOLES!

I bet those legislators were given big checks from the owners of private prisons. Fuckers. :grr:

[BlueIris]

18. You said it.