Outsourcing Inmates

Outsourcing Inmates is a Bad Move

Governor Greg Benson wants to outsource the states medium security prisoners. Outsourcing would mean send inmates in the states prisons out of state to serve their prison sentence. We would be sending these inmates who aren't just a number; they are fathers, sons, and grandchildren to prisons in states such as Texas or Georgia. He says this will help with over crowding and will save New Hampshire tax payers money. Shipping inmates out of state will hurt the community's of New Hampshire, it won't save much money, and is a bad idea.

About 70 protesters, calling them selves Families of New Hampshire Inmates, gathered outside the statehouse on March 15, 2004. The prison staff and families of inmates are concerned about Governor Benson's plan to ship inmates out of state, which will also send jobs out of state (Inmate). Charlene Newman, a Massachusetts resident, insists it is irresponsible to make budget cuts to the Department of Corrections; it puts a strain on public safety. "If they send our families away, they are just warehousing them," Newman said. "They are going to send them back to this community not reformed, and our communities are going to be unsafe" (qtd in Inmates). Another protester was Portsmouth's mayor Evelyn Sirrell. Her son is in the state prison on a kidnapping sentence. "To sit in that room and watch the children, the wives, and the grandparents visit their loved ones is very warming," Sirrell said. "I've been taking my 8-year old grandson to visit his father regularly, and his face just lights right up. To snatch that away just isn't right. I'll fight this, and fight it and keep on fighting it" (qtd in Manning). "There's still a feeling that they are a throw-away society. But everybody makes mistakes, and we should give these inmates a chance to bounce back," Sirrell said. "Separating them from there families will make it that much harder for them" (qtd in Manning). David Michaud, an inmate at Concord state prison, said the governor's proposal is causing "anxiety" and "uncertainty" among the inmates. (CCA)

The Executive Councilor of NH, Peter Spaulding, doesn't agree with Benson either. He notes the Governor didn't even consult with the council or legislators before enouncing his plan. "To me it doesn't make a lot of sense. Nobody went to the legislature or the council, and there wasn't even much consultation with corrections officials from what I can tell," Spaulding said. "Unless you get everybody on board with this, what company would put a lot of effort into this proposal? There was no thought or planning behind it." (qtd in Benson) Benson's idea isn't new, lawmakers considered it in 2000 before deciding to build the Berlin prison (Benson). The Berlin prison opened in 2000. If we ship are inmates out and close that prison we would still have to pay the $33 million bond on the facility. "It doesn't make sense to bond a facility when it's empty. And most of these prisoners we would be shipping out would be released back into society here in New Hampshire," Spaulding said. "If they're out of state, we have no control over what will happen to them in terms of continuing their education or training. I think we have a responsibility to release them in better condition then when they came in" (qtd in Manning).

Governor Bensons plan to save the state of New Hampshire money would mean privatizing prisons in the entire state. New Hampshire would be the first and only state in the country to privatize all of its prisons (CCA). Benson's office said the state could save an estimated amount of $19 million a year by going private (Benson). They also say its costing New Hampshire about $22,000 a year per inmate (Manning). There are many critics of private prisons. "States should look at the hidden costs." Private companies save states money, at whose expense? Most private facility's are understaffed or have poorly trained staff. Is saving money worth cutting or reducing rehabilitation services like the drug and alcohol counseling? "You can save money, but the question is whether it's a good idea," said Philip Mattera (qtd in CCA).

Although budgets are still tight in Wyoming, Arizona, Hawaii,