Should prison released non-violent inmates to save money?

by (▪‿▪)DoctorWhoGuru(▪‿▪) Posted 2012/05/26 23:10:00

Related Topics: Police, Las Vegas, Inmates, jail, Video, Budget, Friday, Union, Prison, Budget Crisis

21 votes
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	Yes	13 votes	62%
	No	4 votes	19%
	Undecided	4 votes	19%

NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV (FOX5) -

One wing of the North Las Vegas jail was closed and 70 non-violent inmates were released after dozens of workers -- covering 49 shifts -- called in sick, police said Friday.

"That's unsustainable for us," said Sgt. Tim Bedwell of North Las Vegas Police. "We don't have the personnel to continue that long term and we don't have the money to pay the overtime to fill the positions for days on end."

The announcement came one day after city officials confirmed they were considering downsizing the jail due to North Las Vegas' ongoing budget crisis.

At the time, the city said there were between 200 and 250 inmates at the jail, and about 150 corrections officers and support staff.

The head of the police officer's union, which represents the corrections officers, says it was not a sick out or "blue flu".

"There's been no organized effort," says Michael Yarter, president of the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association. "Whatever corrections officers called in, that was on an individual basis. We don't condone that. If we had known about that prior to it happening, I would have definitely told them not to do that."

Read More: News Report Video: http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/18627353/inmates-released-afte...

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KarenInKenoshaWisconsin 2012/05/26 23:13:47

Yes

+4
All those in jail for pot -- release them.
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More polls by (▪‿▪)DoctorWhoGuru(▪‿▪)

loribird29 2012/05/29 20:03:06

Yes

+1
this war on drugs crap has to end. for profit prisons are downright disgusting. this isn't how a civilized society should be.

reply
Me 2012/05/27 23:08:56

No

+1
but its happening

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Vintage Lace 2012/05/27 12:43:52

No

+1
Burglars and drug dealers should do their time, aswell as violent offenders.

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Dream_the _Timelord 2012/05/27 04:06:52

Undecided

+1
No comment

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Kaleokualoha 2012/05/27 04:03:56

Yes

+1
The prison industry is WAY too powerful in America. We may have the highest rate of incarceration in the world, with a sizable fraction of that for drug offenses.

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beach bum 2012/05/27 02:41:22

Yes

+1
sure if they are monitored by a electronic system to watch where they go....ie ankle bracelet and parole officer check ins

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Dweezle 2012/05/27 00:37:52

Undecided

+1
Was this a Prison or a city/county Jail? there is a big difference. Prisons house post conviction inmates with long term sentences, Where jails house Pre-Trial suspects that may not even be guilty as well as inmates with short term minor convictions. This "Land of the Free" has the worlds highest per capita incarceration rate.

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Manda 2012/05/27 00:04:18

Undecided

+1
I meant to select "yes." We need to utilize community-based alternatives to incarceration for many nonviolent offenses. Prison is expensive and often ineffective.

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GuruA2J~#IOKIYAR~612 BLOCKT 2012/05/26 23:49:56

Yes

+1
There are better ways of dealing with people who are not violent than incarceration. Especially during times when localities have very tight budgets.

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bob 2012/05/26 23:22:28

Yes

+2
I see nothing wrong with creating road clean up gangs that work off their fine for non violent offenders.

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Roblem BN-0 2012/05/26 23:17:40

Yes

+2
All first time drug offenders should be released. All people arrested strictly for posession should be released. If there were repeated attempts to sell especially to minors then those people should do their time.

All drugs should be legalized so we can end the foolish un-winnable drug war and save billions in resources. We could abolish the DEA... all the narcotics divisions could be disbanded. Then, maybe we wouldn't need the new corporate run prisons... that is a nightmare beyond nightmares!!!!

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KarenInKenoshaWisconsin 2012/05/26 23:13:47

Yes

+4
All those in jail for pot -- release them.

reply