FUNDING FOR PRISONS

Lack of Adequate Funding for Prisons

Lack of Adequate Funding for Prisons

Introduction

Some attempts to get tough on prisoners have turned out to be tougher on prison guards and staff. And some measures to save money have ended up costing more. The Legislature should recognize that protecting the state from criminals is one of its core functions -- and should be funded adequately. Stanley Burtt, retired warden of Lieber Correctional Facility, lays the blame for problems on politicians. In a recent letter to the editor, he asserted that Lieber's staff does a good job in very difficult circumstances. Even still, problems arise. Last month, two correctional officers standing watch over 229 of the state's most dangerous offenders were injured after inmates set off a five-hour riot. With more money to pay for more staff, and to pay staff more, Lieber would be a safer place, even with its population of hardened prisoners.

Discussion

Not only would they be better able to intercept contraband items like cell phones and drugs thrown over the fence to prisoners, they would be better able to slow down the high rate of turnover among the staff (Duke, 2005). In a later interview, Mr. Burtt told us that the people who work at prisons where the worst criminals are kept are paid only slightly more than those who work at lower security facilities. The working conditions at Lieber are sometimes akin to "open warfare," he says. So there is little incentive to stay at Lieber if there is an option to work at other institutions like McDougall Correctional Institute in Ridgeville, which Mr. Burtt describes as more like a day camp. Budget cuts can mean that prison guards work virtually in isolation (Price & Schwester, 2010). That increases risk and eliminates the esprit de corps that Mr. Burtt ...