Posted by Early on April 16, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Just put a fence around Charleston Farms and that should take care of it!

Posted by ColdBeer on April 16, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Here's an idea: Get rid of the "adult education, vocational training and drug and alcohol counseling" available for inmates and use that money to properly pay the Corrections Officers and to build and maintain proper facilities. They are, afterall, prisoners. Criminals. Why do they have all of these free services available to them that the law abiding public has to pay for?

Posted by desspec on April 16, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Gee, I had to obey the law and pay for my education and vocational training ... maybe if prisoners were put to work and truly made to "pay their debt..." it would help the budget.

Posted by 5thGenerationLocal on April 16, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by raregar67 (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Within 3 years these inmates will return to their communities, God forbid something hasn't changed in them. I am not a bleeding heart liberal, far from it...but attempting to erase the defects that landed them in prison seems like a good investment to me. JMO

People do not change after prison. I do not know what the percentages are, but I am sure that they are high. If they get out, they will return. Not only becuase they enjoy the life of crime, but for what prisons afford them. There is a hierarchy inside prison walls that can be tougher to scale than on the street.

Rehabilitation is not the answer.

Posted by ColdBeer on April 16, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My personal opinion is that we've given rehabilitation a chance for many years now and it's not working. True, some criminals fix themselves and become productive, but most don't. Most end up repeat offenders. Fixing one doesn't justify going light on the millions of others. If they are the type of person that would take advantage of programs to better themselves, they would have taken advantage of those programs BEFORE they became criminals. They don't though and I feel most of them never will.

In my opinion, the answer is tougher punishment. We need longer sentencing with no frills in prison. Make it a place that no one would EVER want to go to under any circumstances. If they still end up in prison after that, they obviously have nothing to contribute to the free society and them you can justify keeping them in prison for ever. The way prisons are operated now; many habitual criminals have no problem going to prison. In many cases, they are better off in prison. 3 meals a day, TV, exercise equipment, free education and they still get to mingle with fellow gang members and criminals. For many, it's like being on the street without going hungry. Make it tougher. Take away any pleasantries associated with doing time.

Posted by highclass on April 16, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Give me a break. You speak about things you have no knowledge of. SCDC is the biggest money making scheme I have ever seen. Many inmates do work for private industry while in prision. The prision gets paid for the labor they provide. SCDC also charges the inmates who work room and board. Several prisions have there own farms where they grow enough vegetables to feed the entire population. There is also a prision that raises cattle. Inamtes are charged alot for the things they buy from the prision ie. soap, shampoo and snacks etc. Do some research and you will see!!!

Posted by suec on April 16, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

5thG, some people do change becuase of prison. My husband was sent to prison for a very short time when he was about 19 for a trespassing violation and some other things that added up. I didn't know him back then.
He spent 1 week at CCI in Columbia and said that convinced him that he NEVER wanted to go back. It's been 40 years and he hasn't had so much as a traffic ticket since.

Posted by 5thGenerationLocal on April 16, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

SUEC, that is good to hear, but I gotta stand tall on the fact that most cannot/will not be reformed. Not because the system didn't try, but because the individual did not want change. Your husband was one of the lucky few who saw the light quickly. For that, I am proud. BUT, that does not change the fact that criminals are criminals. And the vast majority of them will always be.

And highclass, prisoners should have to pay for items that they need or want. They already get free gym membership, room and board and school. They have to be held accountable for something.

Posted by Early on April 16, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How much is soap on a rope these days?

Posted by ColdBeer on April 16, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

highclass, if SCDC is the biggest money making scheme you've ever seen, I sure hope you don't work at a for-profit business.

Posted by 512c on April 16, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Halleluia!!!!!
Hosanna!
One less prison!
Seriously, we need to free all non-violent drug past-possesors

Posted by megaward on April 16, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why not just put a fence around North Charleston, isn't that where most of the crimes happen?

Posted by 512c on April 16, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow, after commenting, I read comments above mine... and wow, this is getting interesting.. what do we have here: with NCHeat... police? and Raregar: Lawyer?
well, my father was in prison for possession (Bush JR was a possessor, and now... oppressor, but I will forgive him (not forget)). And now he is a lawyer.
He spent some time because of drugs... now he has been free for at least 35 years and since then, a pilot for several ministries like Swaggart, Robertson, etc... and went back to school to become a lawyer.
Just because someone breaks a law doesn't make them an evil person. In fact, in my opinion, many who write/enforce the laws are abusing natural laws. We should know better, if a law says you can't grow a green plant, and it says: arrest those that do.. that law should change. If someone asked me to arrest, abuse, torture, kill for a law I would not do it. I would quit my job! So, Heat... I recommend: protest your orders.

Posted by theronce on April 16, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It seems to me that commiting a felony and earning a prison sentence with any real time is a life long commitment. Even if you learn your lesson, your debt is never really paid. Chances are that the average felon comes out with nothing. Aside from voting and gun rights, survival is a concern. Few are the employers who pay decently and who take in ex-cons. The financial and social debt is never paid in full.

Posted by 512c on April 16, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No Theronce, and yes... Part of the sad thing about prison is that the family of the prisoner suffer, financially and socially. the debt that people take on by bail is a crime. The money is used for what?
Did you all know that it cost more to send a prisoner to prison, even in today's private corporate prison (paid for by tax, which I would have no part with, but am forced (D.C. license plate reads:"Taxation without Representation..." Where is the NO!"?). If one steals, because they are addicted to stealing (I had a friend that went to the mall just for a thrill), or steal to make money to pay for a habit, and you cut off their arm, you will be paying for that arm, by karma, and by the hole in society it creates.
The problem with our current environment is that we thing we can take the quick way out, and send people into debt, and prison, or both, and not pay for it with long term sickness of society!

Posted by ColdBeer on April 16, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There are many pointing out how hard it can be for a criminal to get a fresh start in life... it needs to be harder. These people that are considering committing a crime need to know that they are messing up their whole life... not just 6 months or 3 years. They need to know that they are going to ruin the lives of the rest of their family. They need to know that the consequences are so severe that that they realize that the crime is not worth committing. Those that decide to commit the crime anyway need to understand that it is THEIR fault that their life and the life of their family is ruined, not anyone else’s fault.

I have NEVER talked someone in to committing a crime. I have NEVER told someone that committing a crime was the right thing to do. It is NOT my fault that a convicted criminal's life is hard. OK... some of them get their act together. Big deal... MOST don't. Why should I have to worry about my safety and the safety of my family so that a criminal's life is better? I shouldn't, I don't and I won't.

We need tougher penalties, including the death penalty, for criminals. There are PLENTY of good law abiding people in this world. We don't need those that can't act civil. If human beings ever become an endangered species, my opinion may change, but until then I save get rid of the trash before the trash gets rid of you.

Posted by highclass on April 16, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

5th Generation I agree that they should pay but SCDC marks the items up so high. They are making a killing. ColdBeer I do work for a profit company. You need to do a little research. While I was in college I did an in depth study of SCDC. What I found out was that SCDC makes tons of money. It really needs no taxpayer money at all. In fact, SCDC should be paying something to the taxpayers.

Posted by ColdBeer on April 16, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SCDC has brand new facilities that are not in use yet because of a lack of funding from our State government. Yes, SCDC makes money. It doesn't make near enough money to support itself. If SCDC could figure out a way to be a self-sustaining, even profitable organization, at the expense of prisoners, I'd have no problem with that at all. It is an unfortunate fact that the money I pay in taxes helps to buy computers, books, exercise equipment and many other quirks for prisoners. I'm sure you learned this during your college paper, highclass. I should not have to support such things for criminals. I could care less if they were never allowed out of their cells and were fed three meals a day of leftover loaf.

Posted by 512c on April 16, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"our" safety...
have you seen the video of the police driving through "their" neighborhood?
"yours" is next...

Posted by ColdBeer on April 16, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have never feared the police. I've never lived anywhere that I needed to fear the police. Yes, there are a few screwed up policemen, just as there are a few screwed up people in any organization. Let's not forget though that the people being chased, and possibly mistreated, in those videos were all breaking the law, or at least suspects.

There will never be a reason for the police to treat me as a suspect and therefore I have no fear of police. I'll never live in a crime ridden neighborhood and therefore I have no fear of the police.

I support our police 100%. I just wish the Justice System supported them as well.

Posted by ColdBeer on April 16, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh I had one run through my back yard about two years ago, allwoman. I know it can happen no matter where you live. It won't happen often though, and when it does, I'll certainly support the police's attempt to catch him/her. If a screwed up policeman caused damage or harm to me or my family, I'll handle that situation. For the most part though, I feel the police can be completely trusted.

Posted by pithy on April 16, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe instead of providing and paying for free education and rehabilitative training they could have the inmates go along the road and trim trees...

Posted by PoisenIvy on April 16, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VIOLENT offenders roaming the roads armed with axes and chainsaws...now THAT will definitely make our communities feel SAFER...

Posted by pithy on April 16, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Coastal Pre-Release at 3765 Leeds Ave. houses non-violent inmates within three years of release, according to the Corrections Department's Web site."

PoisenIvy-I didn't read in the article that the people that I was referring to were "VIOLENT" - so sorry to offend.

Posted by dianed43 on April 16, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

just what SCDC needs. close more prisons so the ones that remain open are even more overcrowded and understaffed. obviously they have learned nothing after all the inside investigations that were recently conducted. overcrowding is a danger for the inmates as well as the employees.

Posted by lexylady on April 16, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bring back the "Chain Gang". No work, no eat!! We are way to easy on criminals today. That is the problem as I see it!

Posted by luvmydogs59 on April 17, 2008 at 12:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The powers that be should take a lesson from Sherrif Joe Arpachio <sp?> from Maricopa County, Arizona. I'm sure many of you have heard of him...he is the sherrif that runs the prison where they have what is known as "tent city". He makes the inmates wear pink boxers, socks, etc. He uses his inmates on chain gangs, farms, animal shelters, etc., etc. where they earn .28 cents an hour. If you read any articles on this man, you will find that he has totally reduced the costs of running the jail and the recidivism rate there has been drastically reduced. If he can do it there, in the Phoenix area, which is much larger than this area, why can't they do it here?