Thousands expected to enter Va.'s prison system by 2013

Around 6,700 additional inmates are expected to enter Virginia's prison system in the next five years, and officials are looking for ways to keep up with the surge.

[Not fooled]

Yep, and 95 percent of them will be Black. We have a problem with the crime committed by Blacks in the U.S. In addition to costing us a fortune in welfare, food stamps and other government aid to provide for their existence now we have to fork over huge sums to put them in prison because they refuse to abide by simple rules of society.

[takenitlight]

Story is leaving out facts!

VA houses prisoners from other states just like we import & dispose of trash from other states. VA is getting paid for both.

The really bad issue w/ importing prisoners, is once their time is up, they stay here in VA vs. going back to whatever state they came from. Hence, our crime & gang #'s rise.

If they packed them in like sardines without personal affects like TV's, radios, etc, there would be more room. I don't think they need beds. Just a blanket for the floor and fead bread & water.

American prisons are like country clubs. Prisoners compare jail to high school and like it. I enjoyed my high school football days, but since I'm a productive citizen I wouldn't want to go back. Prisoners love it & gain "Respect" there.

[Phil]

Privatize it. To maintain a profit, company will not be so "giving" in "benefits".

[Jim]

Too many laws. Too many people in jail for dumb things. Is the cost of locking a lot of people worth it? Is it better to give shorter sentances and help them when they get out or spend more tax dollars keeping them cadged?

[Long Haul Driver]

There is an easy way to ease the prison population, lets start by cleaning out the death rows. lets take the prisons and turn back the clock 50 years, no cable, no AC, no basketball courts, no weight rooms, no phone calls, no visitation. lets return prison to being a prison and not a place to build up your gang reputation.

[Phil]

Jim wrote:

Too many laws. Too many people in jail for dumb things. Is the cost of locking a lot of people worth it? Is it better to give shorter sentances and help them when they get out or spend more tax dollars keeping them cadged?

I agree to a point. But some of these knuckle-draggers repeat and repeat ad nauseum. My experience is that, unless its the crime of the month/year/ie.. media interest, most are not given jail time and get off really light.

[officer doc virginia]

some inmates have more rights in prison then the people on the street.look at some of the other countries penalty systems,its not so pretty.i would like to see some of these people taken to the town square-shackle them up and count how many lashes they recieve!that would be a good wake-up call.what happenned to eye for an eye tooth for a tooth.if your guilty of murder-gid r done,instead of 5or10 years later and be executed the same way there victim was! louisa va.

[Dee]

Thank you Jim.

Other than he, these posts are obviously written by people who have not been incarcerated or had family in prison. It is NOT a country club, the separation from your family is definitely a punishment not fun. No phone calls and No visitation punishes the family more than the inmate. As it is phone calls can cost up to $30 for 20 minutes, money I'm sure that doesn't go to pay for inmates "spa" day.

[Gigantor]

You sound like a liberal. Lock the scum up so they can't commit any more crimes. Even most felons don't get jail the first time. Otherwise we wouldn't have so many 19 year old convicted felons running around with guns in Virginia.

Jim wrote:

Too many laws. Too many people in jail for dumb things. Is the cost of locking a lot of people worth it? Is it better to give shorter sentances and help them when they get out or spend more tax dollars keeping them cadged?

[Gigantor]

Oh well. Toght titty for the everyone.

Dee wrote:

Thank you Jim.
Other than he, these posts are obviously written by people who have not been incarcerated or had family in prison. It is NOT a country club, the separation from your family is definitely a punishment not fun. No phone calls and No visitation punishes the family more than the inmate. As it is phone calls can cost up to $30 for 20 minutes, money I'm sure that doesn't go to pay for inmates "spa" day.

[NEWJERZR1CAN]

Not fooled wrote:

Yep, and 95 percent of them will be Black. We have a problem with the crime committed by Blacks in the U.S. In addition to costing us a fortune in welfare, food stamps and other government aid to provide for their existence now we have to fork over huge sums to put them in prison because they refuse to abide by simple rules of society.

Are you serious? First of all, where are you getting your statistics because that is a gross misrepresentation. There are just as moany non- Blacks on welfare and receiving government assistance than one might believe. And what some people fail to realize is the government is an agency put in place to help it's citizens however, most of these agencies would not be in business if they did what they were actually put in place to do...think about it, you have someone who is about to become homeless with children for whatever reason and the first thing that person does is go to the government for the assistance they profess to provide and what happens?? That person is told they have to get a welfare check in order to get any type of assistance. Even if that person doesn't want or even need that check that's what they will get. Once this person accepts the welfare as a means to help them they are faced with "compliance" issues, "if you don't do this we can't help you" so you comply then they tell you "now you gotta do this because if you don't we won't help you" so again you comply...and it becomes a seemingly neverending cycle. Do it or get no help. This leaves a person feeling useless because what they are asskissing for isn't worth the humiliation but at the same time they feel like if they just keep doing what they are told they will eventually get the help they needed in the first place. That in turn creates other issues..."how am i gonna hustle to keep food in my kids mouths, how am i gonna pay my rent, how am i gonna pay my bills, if i get a job chances are im not gonna make enough anyway..."the problem these people face is whether or not to resort to illegal activity in order to better themselves financially...it makes no sense but you need to understand that being in that system in some way or another will lead to the prison system. If the government would do what they say they intend to do and help these people at some point there would be no need for welfare or foodstamps or any of that because those people would have become self-sufficient and will have gained the pride and respect that comes along with taking care of your own responsibilities. Now, don't get me wrong I know there are MANY MANY people who abuse the system but I am not one of those people. I have no respect for those people. I have no problem getting up and going to work everyday, coming home and taking care of my family, then staying up late nights to complete my education but for some they know no other way. Instead of putting them down and degrade them further than what the government has already done try offering some advice...it's not just a BLACK issue my friend, it's a HUMAN issue and it would serve you well to remember that.

C

[Biff]

Obviously you believe that the "government" i.e. the TAXPAYERS, owe you and others something.

NEWJERZR1CAN wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you serious? First of all, where are you getting your statistics because that is a gross misrepresentation. There are just as moany non- Blacks on welfare and receiving government assistance than one might believe. And what some people fail to realize is the government is an agency put in place to help it's citizens however, most of these agencies would not be in business if they did what they were actually put in place to do...think about it, you have someone who is about to become homeless with children for whatever reason and the first thing that person does is go to the government for the assistance they profess to provide and what happens?? That person is told they have to get a welfare check in order to get any type of assistance. Even if that person doesn't want or even need that check that's what they will get. Once this person accepts the welfare as a means to help them they are faced with "compliance" issues, "if you don't do this we can't help you" so you comply then they tell you "now you gotta do this because if you don't we won't help you" so again you comply...and it becomes a seemingly neverending cycle. Do it or get no help. This leaves a person feeling useless because what they are asskissing for isn't worth the humiliation but at the same time they feel like if they just keep doing what they are told they will eventually get the help they needed in the first place. That in turn creates other issues..."how am i gonna hustle to keep food in my kids mouths, how am i gonna pay my rent, how am i gonna pay my bills, if i get a job chances are im not gonna make enough anyway..."the problem these people face is whether or not to resort to illegal activity in order to better themselves financially...it makes no sense but you need to understand that being in that system in some way or another will lead to the prison system. If the government would do what they say they intend to do and help these people at some point there would be no need for welfare or foodstamps or any of that because those people would have become self-sufficient and will have gained the pride and respect that comes along with taking care of your own responsibilities. Now, don't get me wrong I know there are MANY MANY people who abuse the system but I am not one of those people. I have no respect for those people. I have no problem getting up and going to work everyday, coming home and taking care of my family, then staying up late nights to complete my education but for some they know no other way. Instead of putting them down and degrade them further than what the government has already done try offering some advice...it's not just a BLACK issue my friend, it's a HUMAN issue and it would serve you well to remember that.
C

[NEWJERZR1CAN]

Sweetie the government owes me nothing, the government doesn't support me nor my children as i said i have no problem getting up and going to work everyday, in fact i rather enjoy it...you missed my point completely. As for taxpayers...baby I have never worked less than one job since I was 16 I AM a taxpayer so those people on public assitance are also getting fed off of some of the money that is taken out of my check but I;m not complaining because I am sure there are people out there who genuinely have a need and if I had it to give I would give it out of my own pocket...that wasn't the issue nor the point I was trying to make. I used to live out Harbor Homes brah, yes i said it, BADNEWZ all day...and I saw first hand how some of the people out there do nothing all day depending on the government...that's abuse...but what about some of those folks who really need that help?? They gettin' screwed by a gov't thats there to help them because there are certain people who trynna take whatever then can get and then some. BIFF...or is it L-Mack

[These are people]

well, let me jump in and add my two cents worth. First of all the over crowding in the prison is being caused by the new drug laws that now give more time to people with addiction than they do to murderers and rapist. These laws are loved by some in law enforcement (and I am not saying all as we have some great dedicated people on that side). Why are they loved--because you can have a big drug bust, throw in many charges (whether true or not) that a person cannot get out to even work on their defense. You can give this person lots of time and then say how you have cleaned the streets of drugs. Great for some careers, but what has it done to lower crime. Well, 1/4 of those entering prison will only learn violence and return again later for a more serious crime.

Are these just black people, no, this law has now began to touch the white middle class--the class that thought these laws were for someone else. Are first time offenders being caught up in this and sent to prison for many years--definitely.

Don't ever feel that this problem will never hit your family. More and more families that felt that are now being caught up in this mess. You never know when that child of yours will grow up and someday away from home (maybe college, maybe war), and no matter how you think they know not to touch this mess, friends can influence them otherwise. Without family around to turn to they can quickly be caught up in this. Oh, yes, at a low point someone can offer them meth with the excuse it will help you. I have been told you can become addicted to meth with only one try. After this, that child you thought would never use drugs is suddenly one of them.

The fact is treatment is much much more cheaper than prison. This should be the first option--not prison.

Am, I just a low life person on welfare. No, true I don't work, but that is because I worked for many years and am now retired. I make enought in retirement that I still pay taxes, so no, I am not a low life. I spent my working years working for the US government. A job which often times required a government clearance. I have always been so proud that none of my children or grandchildren used drugs. Hey, we were so above that scum--well, you never know when suddenly, you are apart of that world.

Don't take my word for what I have said, go on the internet and do some searching. Look at families against mandatory minimums and see what has been learned by this group. This is a problem and we need to be working on it.

[FUBAR]

Long Haul Driver wrote:

There is an easy way to ease the prison population, lets start by cleaning out the death rows. lets take the prisons and turn back the clock 50 years, no cable, no AC, no basketball courts, no weight rooms, no phone calls, no visitation. lets return prison to being a prison and not a place to build up your gang reputation.

First to judge this one Brilliant! I too would like to see ole "Sparky" back in action and roll back to the old times.

[These are people]

Some of you people posting here haven't a clue of what the situation really is. Go on line and learn more about our prison system.

[Lloyd M Schieldge]

One major problem with the prison system as I see it, is that the very people writing the laws to put people away, actually belong in prison themselves. Much of the money it took to get these politicians in power to begin with, came from our friends the CEO’s and/or the companies that pay them. Too many of our Federal Prisons appear to be modeled after the Country Clubs of this country. Why should the White Collar corporate offenders pay their debt to society in places like that? If a person belongs in prison, then prison they should go, and they should all be the same with only the bare necessities required to stay alive. I also advocate the old system wherein prisoners were required to work in chain gangs or some other way to be productive for the country while serving their time. These people should be required to put in at least 8 hours of hard labor, 5 days a week. They should not be paid because they are there paying their debt to society in the first place. These people could be sweeping our streets (with brooms) and a host of other menial jobs that do not require much of a brain, or much interaction with law abiding citizens. I agree with those that are frustrated with the fact that these prisoners are allowed to sit in air conditioned environments watching television, or working out in the gym.

[Easy Time]

Jail has become something not to fear.
The Charlottesville Jail has a nickname of "The Hilton on the Hill".
We need to follow the example of the Arizona Sheriff that does not worry about catering to Law Breakers. Those inmates complain about jail. The do not complain here!

[george burnett]

why is there no nursery and preschool at this facility.what if the "baby mama"need a break?i want to know if this has been addressed in obamas spendulus package?

[Lloyd M Schieldge]

Washington, Ohio, California, New York, Nebraska, and West Virginia all have prison Nurseries. A prison nursery is a section of prison that houses incarcerated mothers and their babies.

See http://www.mommymechanics.com/2008/05/washing... It is only a matter of time before Virginia does it too.

Can you imagine showing your Birth Certificate and having it say

Babby's Daddy: No Known
Babby's Momma: Prison Inmate No. 68943756
Birth Place: Prison Cell Block 101