Regarding “Lane County Direly Needs More Funds” (ODE, May 4): The worst part about the prisoners with the flat-screen televisions is that some of these felons still owe monetary restitution to their victims, or they owe court fees to the state. These people are supposed to be repaying a debt to society, and as long as they still owe on that debt, they should not be able to purchase things like flat-screen televisions with the money they earn working in prison.
Instead, after all restitution is paid, why not have these prisoners use the money they earn to pay for all or part of their own incarceration? Why should taxpayers pay their room and board? Let businesses hire them, pay them a low but fair wage, and on the first of the month, their rent is due! Every day that they don’t pay is one extra day that they sit in prison at the end of their sentence. If executed properly, this system would save the state money, provide a source of cheap labor for Oregon’s businesses, give inmates the chance to build some job skills, and let them repay their debt to society. The money saved on room and board for convicts could be used to help fund public safety in Lane County.
Or better yet, let’s privatize the prisons. Introduce competition by letting private companies bid on prison contracts, and whoever can give the best service for the lowest price wins. Private prisons have worked in other states: They consistently receive higher quality ratings from both inmates and employees. These prisons are not only better and cheaper than state prisons, but they are profitable, as well.
I know that free market, capitalist principles applied to the prison system will surely irk liberals everywhere, but it’s time to get inmates off welfare. Let them work to pay their own way like the rest of us do.