| Where does it stop? This question should be
considered carefully and posed to Va.'s government by their employers
- the taxpayers. Virginia politicians and big business have no intentions
of correcting the privateering and profit making or the underhanded political
dealings and charades leveled at the public's fears concerning prisoners,
lengthier incarcerations, the construction of more un-needed prisons, and
the taxpayers taking the bill of millions.
Virginia, as of 6-22-08, holds 43 agency facilities. 43 prisons.
Yet more are being called for. As present, 1 every year for the foreseeable
future. "The resulting log jam created by the reduced parole rate, coupled
with the daily new arrivals in the state's overburdened prison system,
means Virginia will have to construct one new prison a year for the foreseeable
future to maintain needed bed space."
Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), Chairman of the Virginia State Crime
Commission stated, "That's a projection of what's going to be required.
We don't have a choice. It's the way it is", concerning the projection
for the next six years alone.
A recent report submitted to the Secretary of Public Safety projected
that Virginia will add about 1,000 prisoners a year... Where does it end?
Who will be that 1,000 a year? Certainly not the politicians or big
business, both above the law.
Will it end when every county in Va. holds one prison? 2, 3, 4 prisons?
So where does it end?
Where does it stop?
When do the politician's employers - the taxpayers - say no more
to the $31,000.00 estimated taxpayer cost per inmate per year, especially
those estimated 9,000 persons who predate the 'no parole law' set down
in January 1st, 1995 by George Allen and Jerry W. Kilgore?
The politicians and big business are not concerned with re-direction
the millions used to build prisons to any other methods of prevention or
rehabilitation because it does not put them in political office or make
them money. Even a former Republican State Senator and Virginia Attorney
General has realized Va.'s mistake, declaring the errors of a failed system
publicly.
Once again, where does it end? When a prison rests within visual
range in all directions? Which side of the fence will you find yourself
on? Someone has to fill them after all. Who will it be? You, your significant
other? Child? Parent? Friend? Someone will be put in those prison
beds for the beneficiaries of the Va. Prison Industrial Complex. How much
longer are you willing to pay $31,000.00 a year, a cost that will rise,
so Va. can keep prisoners who are eligible for parole, have served 20,
30 and 40 years already, but cannot be released because a parole board
wants to continue to collect over $300,000.00 a year in salary from you?
Where does it end?
(see Articles for sources that
support this piece) |
| Inmates who were sentenced before parole was abolished in 1994,
remain eligible for early release but the percentage being granted parole
has plummeted. The current 8% parole rate is one of the lowest in the nation. |
A
| Year |
Parole Rate |
Governor
|
|
1981
|
30%
|
Dalton
|
|
1982
|
35%
|
Robb
|
|
1983
|
43%
|
"
|
|
1984
|
35%
|
"
|
|
1985
|
29%
|
"
|
|
1986
|
33%
|
Bailes
|
|
1987
|
36%
|
"
|
|
1989
|
37%
|
"
|
|
1990
|
47%
|
Wilder
|
|
1991
|
45%
|
"
|
|
1992
|
42%
|
"
|
|
1993
|
40%
|
"
|
|
1994
|
25%
|
Allen
|
|
1995
|
14%
|
"
|
|
1996
|
18%
|
"
|
|
1997
|
20%
|
"
|
|
1998
|
16%
|
Gilmore
|
|
1999
|
7%
|
"
|
|
2000
|
8%
|
"
|
|
2001
|
8%
|
"
|
|
2002
|
8%
|
Warner
|
|
INCARCERATION STATISTICS
1,470.045 inmates nationwide
A
38,000 state inmates
A
47 prisons house 30,500 inmates
A
balance in local & regional jails
A
VA DOC projection 2006 - 42,575 inmates
A
Source: July 15, 2004 VA Pilot Article |
|
