Rockingham County, Governor Perdue's Budget, and Prisons

The News and Record reported one local casualty of Governor Perdue's proposed budget: the prison in McLeansville.  But there is another.

There were plans to build a state prison in the city of Eden.  Rockingham County has had some economic challenges for quite some time; and locating the prison in Eden was actually viewed as a positive development because it would bring jobs.  While prisons might ordinarily arouse some not-in-my-backyard sentiment, I am not aware that happened with this particular proposal.  Rockingham County was glad to get it.

But Perdue's budget will almost certainly eliminate or delay the prospects of building the prison in Eden, according to a Media General article published today in the Rockingham County newspapers.

Dome reports that Perdue's plan is increasing pressure by state legislators to reduce prison sentences.  The News and Observer also reports that it may exacerbate overcrowding conditions in the remaining prisons; and may cause the state to fail to meet projected future demands for prison space.

I have little doubt that many of Perdue's compatriots in Raleigh will be quite happy that more criminals will be out on the streets because of insufficient prison space.  The problem is that our state and local governments do not have sufficient infrastructure in place to monitor these criminals, and do not even seem to have sufficient experience doing it well. 

Here in Greensboro, we have ample reason to believe that criminal justice and law enforcement imperatives have been lesser priorities for both our local and state governments.  Governor Perdue's proposal is just one more example. 

Comments

[Ken Hill]

So Governor Perdue is all over the probation system, partially as result of the death of Eve Carson in Chapel Hill, while at the same time reducing prison bed count. The victims of the crimes committed by those on probation may well have different perspective. Crimes have many victims. My wife was robbed at gunpoint about 20 years ago. No injuries. But she was much later arriving home than was expected. And even now, if she is later than expected arriving at home, the old feelings of fear begin to creep into my mind. Crimes have widespread and long lasting effects.

[Vanceboro Voice]

I work for DOC as a maintenance supervisor. There are plans to double bunk at several prisons. (That is adding a bed to a single cell.) Here is the problem with that. At Pamlico CI it would double the population. There are no plans to add additional correctional staff. You can see the problems this may cause. Even doing that the state is still going to need beds.

[Joe Guarino]

Ken, you raise a good point. Any time the criminal justice and law enforcement systems are politically manipulated, we have to question how it will affect victims.

And Vanceboro, what you are describing, I suppose, could be a recipe for more prison riots.