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One in one hundred Americans are currently incarcerated, according to a new report from Pew Research Center. That same report found that Oregon spends a larger percentage of its state budget on corrections than any other state. So what are we getting for that money? Some companies are getting cheap (below minimum wage) labor in exchange for training inmates. Those who argue in favor of this system say this is a way for the prisoners to learn marketable skills. In fact, the Oregon constitution requires inmates to do some sort of work. (See section 41.)
These institutions don't exist in isolation. They're located near populated areas. So what does it mean to have a prison in your community? The central Oregon city of Madras expected a big economic boost when a prison opened four miles outside of town. The Deer Ridge Correctional Institution did bring 200 new jobs when the minimum security wing of the facility opened in September, but according to Deer Ridge Community Development Coordinator Parrish Van Wert, fewer than 50% of those new employees live in Madras.
Is there a prison in or near where you live? What effect has that had on the local economy? Is Oregon's approach to incarceration -- and prison labor -- good for our state's financial health?
GUESTS:
- Keith Chu: Reporter for The Bend Bulletin
- Parrish Van Wert: Community Development Coordinator of Deer Ridge Correctional Institution
- Max Williams: Director of the Oregon Department of Corrections
- Clariner Boston: Executive Director of Better People
Tagged as: business · central oregon · prison
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I couldn't agree more... there is NOT enough effort being put into preventative measures to keep folks out of prison in the first place... as a family member of someone who was incarcerated - even the "short" 4 year sentence was enough to de-rail the persons career - getting "behind" in technology, the amount of money a person released is required to "give back" to the state and the county (more than a home mortgage in a lot of cases), and the white-collar workforce bias against former inmates, has been very difficult financially for the family...
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While it doesn't administer to rural communities as abundant as beyond ones, there is a botheration if applicable businesses abutting down and accessible up central Eid ul-adha Message a bastille application acutely low allowance workers. Not alone
does it aching bounded communities and their citizens, it gives an arbitrary advantage if aggressive with businesses on the outside. This has in fact happened, so it's not just a academic issue. The business active abutment workers, who absent their jobs to prisoners.
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It is NOT a coincidence that Oregon spends the highest percentage of it's state budget on prisons and is among the lowest in percentage spent on education.
We have a choice of how our state's money is spent. We all want a safe society, but spending more on prisons will not help make our society safer in the long run. If we want a safer and more equitable society, then we must invest in education for the people of Oregon, not prisons. -
Why does Oregon spend the highest percentage of its state budget on prisons while Oregon has a rate of incarceration which is below the national average?
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If we want a safer and more equitable society, then we must invest in education for the people of Oregon, not prisons.
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The study Keith Chu is referring to regarding the negative impact of prisons on employment in rural areas was published in the journal Social Science Quarterly - (Gregory Hooks, Clayton Mosher, Thomas Rotolo and Linda Labao (2004) "The Prison Industry: Carceral Expansion and Employment in U.S. Counties."
Part of the reason that prisons do not create jobs in rural communities (especially) is that there are limited economic multiplier effects associated with them. In addition and, particularly in the context of Oregon's Measure 17 (passed in 1994) which required inmates to work 40 hours per week, prisoners are "taking" jobs from citizens (there are numerous examples of this in Oregon). There is also limited evidence to suggest that this measure has had any positive effects with respect to inmate "training and rehabilitation."
Clayton Mosher -
Clayton Mosher,
You mention that there are numerous examples of prisoners "taking" jobs from citizens. I'd love to bring one up. Can you provide an example?
Thanks,
Dave -
Prisons are unsustainable subsidized institutions. The government could put the same amount of money into education facilities that would help the community much more. Teachers and staff vs. prison guards what is the better option. What will benefit the community or the state all together. Also, prisons will experience layoffs in poor economic times.
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Oregon has the lowest recitivism rate in the nation for a system of its size (%26 - %30). (Rhode Island and New Jersey have lower rates, but are significantly smaller systems) A major reason for this low rate of repeat offenders is the array of programs we offer inmates to help them resocialize. What are the savings to the state when an offender successfully rejoins society? Fewer victims, less loss of property due to criminal activities, and increased tax revenues from an employed citizen.
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While it doesn't apply to rural communities as much as larger ones, there is a problem when viable businesses close down and open up inside a prison using extremely low wage workers. Not only does it hurt local communities and their citizens, it gives an unfair advantage when competing with businesses on the outside. This has actually happened, so it's not just a hypothetical issue. The business employed union workers, who lost their jobs to prisoners.
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Many years ago I was a guest on a local Town Hall T.V. show when the City of Wilsonville was considering allowing the siting of a prison in that town. Because I run a shelter, I know something about NIMBYism and during a filming break, a local resident said to me (with a straight face) 'there is no crime in Wilsonville.' I replied, 'If you think there isn't at least one active peodophile within a one mile radius of your house, you are seriously naive. At least when they are in prison, you know where they are. You don't have to wonder which one of your neighbor's houses is not a safe place for your children to play.' It was eye-opening for me to realize that there are people who really believe there are no criminals in their town.
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"Is there a prison in or near where you live? What effect has that had on the local economy? Is Oregon's approach to incarceration -- and prison labor -- good for our state's financial health?"
Yes, there is a prison near where I live and a majority of the people that work there live in the surrounding community and contribute to the local and state economy. Is Oregon's approach to our situation good for the state's economic health? A redundant question when the employee's are paying property taxes as well as 9% of their gross pay to the states coffers - who really cares about the prison labor force when it is constitutionally mandated? The incarcerated deserve what is meted out to them.
No wonder we incarcerate so many folks - come to Oregon to get free medical, optical and dental care along with food-stamps and welfare because we are the Socialist State of the US and you're all welcome with open arms. Oh yea, let us not forget that if you like to do crime come to Oregon where you will do the least amount of time for your crime(s)... -
A reliable source of incarceration data is the federal government's Bureau of Justice Statistics. The most recent report is for 1998. The measurement is for number of incarcerated persons [i]per 100,000 of population[/i]. (This manner of measurement equalizes large states, like California, with small states, like Rhode Island.)
The average incarceration rate nationwide is 450.
Oregon's rate is 262.
Idaho's is 279.
Washington's is 248.
California's is 485.
If Oregon pays a much higher percentage of its budget on prisons than the national average, while incarcerating a much lower rate of inmates, doesn't it follow that the problem is [i]not[/i] the rate of incarceration, but rather than an artificially high cost per inmate for incarceration? -
I am frustrated by how much the interview missed. As someone who goes in and out of the prisons on a daily basis, I am quite familiar with the kind of "work experience" they receive. Although inmates are supposed to work, many are unable to get jobs despite their efforts to do so. Even when they can get one of the few prison jobs available, they are not only paid a less-than-inspirational wage (as little as $24 per month), but jobs include such things as picking up small pieces of paper on the recreational yard (a 5 minute job lasting many hours), repeatedly being asked to sweep a floor that was never dirty in the first place, wiping off tables in the dining area (as long as the seated gang members will allow you to do so), etc. A relatively small percentage of inmates get jobs that lead to any sort of transferable skills. We essentially warehouse inmates and then expect them to be "ready" for release and work after years of boredom, dangerous living conditions, and demeaning treatment. And then they get out and become our neighbors. Shame on us for abandoning the goal of rehabilitation.
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then they get out and become our neighbors. Shame on us for abandoning the goal of rehabilitation.
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This is an important angle on the US prison crisis. Is it ethically acceptable to incarcerate people for profit? What if those people (and society at large) would benefit from another treatment or approach?
What about mandatory minimums? What about NON-VIOLENT drug crimes? These are important angles in light of the newest initiative by Kevin Mannix.
I believe that every effort shoudl be made to keep people out of prison and minimize the amount of time people spend in prison. Once people are sincerely contrite and accept responsibility for their crimes, they should be released and the taxpayer should be relieved of the burden of paying for them.