What? Texas Closed A Prison is a blog commentary written by fellow classmate, Marissa Acuna, following the announcement of the closing of the Sugarland prison.
Acuna writes that by closing this prison Texas would be able to save over $25 million over the next two years. She also claims that instead of law breaking citizens being put into jails they could go to treatment programs or rehabilitation. Acuna agrees with this funding cut of the Sugarland prison to help Texas' current budget crisis.
Initially, after reading Acuna's blog I wasn't entirely convinced that I agree; however, after doing some of my own research I would say that I am caught in between. We currently have the lowest numbers of incarcerated individuals since 1973 and it is said that this can be attributed to rehabilitation programs. The question that I raise here is what type of criminals are we aiming to rehabilitate? I strongly disagree that all criminals can be rehabilitated. Are sexual predators able to be rehabilitated? My short answer to this probing question is, no.
How much are these programs going to cost? Is the state going to have to provide the same benefits to these individuals that they received in jail; medical, dental, etc.? After all of these numbers are configured, how much money are we really saving?
In conclusion, I agree with Marissa, we need to be making funding cuts from the Texas budget to fix this downward economy and if Texas is going to be able to save money by closing the Sugarland prison then I am all for it; I am just hoping there won't be any hidden costs arising from this.
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