The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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April 24, 2011

Your View: Shifting prison costs isn’t real reform

The Free Press

There’s nothing like a good budget crunch to get law enforcement and jail administrators trying to avoid the somewhat inflexible costs of locking up convicted criminals.

The Legislature is moving forward with a proposal that would shift convicted criminals sentenced to state prisons with sentences of 60 days or less to be housed at county jails. Currently, if they’re sentenced to state prison, that’s where they go no matter what the sentence, even a day or two.

Although most county sheriffs appear to be against the proposal, some see the reasonableness of not sending a prisoner to state prison for one day. The cost of transporting and booking and administration would not make sense. Many county sheriffs seem willing to take some state prisoners.

But they correctly point out that taking all state prisoners with sentences of 60 days or less would create a large influx and would cost counties significantly since the state wouldn’t be reimbursing them.

So, some middle ground seems to make the most sense.

Sheriffs also note that some prisoners sentenced to state prisons might be more violent, have more behavior issues that local jails would be ill-equipped to handle.

At the same time, it seems the state wouldn’t even be considering this switch if it wasn’t facing a $5 billion deficit. It looks too much like passing the buck.

We hope the Legislature and sheriffs can find a middle ground that is fair to all.

But both should also examine the entire system to see if a “throw away the key” mentality is filling jails and prisons with non-violent offenders who would have a better chance of rehabilitation in a half-way house or other facility.

If the state wants to shift more of the cost to the county jails, the state should consider removing several unfunded mandates sheriffs and jails must put up with.

Instead of this issue being about who pays higher and higher costs, it should be how we can equitably assess costs that we can somehow lower through sensible reforms that maintain public safety but also protect the public’s pocketbook.

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