Budget frets: Prison shutdowns, early release of inmates

State agencies heads say they would have to cut programs, lay off employees and reduce services in budget scenarios released Friday.

[Duane]

I don't have a problem with releasing the 13,000 inmates. Make sure they are the violent ones. Them that will never become productive, law abiding members of society and use prison simply as a respite and upon release, pick up their criminal careers where they left off. Release them right into the gas chamber, electric chair or lethal injection room.

[Bill]

Change our out dated drug laws. Most states have dropped enforcement of marijuana laws to their lowest priority. Go after the hard drugs.

While we are at it, change our draconian marijuana laws, it is a felony in Arizona if you are caught with a single joint. The person caught is then deemed a second class citizen for life, unable to find employeement, most will end up on walfare, all for a single joint .... insane. Scietific studies have proven that marijuana is safer the aspirin. Most marijuana users are otherwise hard working, law abiding citizens.

Tax it and regulate it like alcohol. The drug dealers don't card our children. The Budweiser and Coors guys don't sell beer to our kids on street corners, nor do they shoot at each other anymore.

At the minimum, change the laws on marijuana, so that possession is a small fine, like a speeding ticket, and let our police officers concentrate on more serious crimes.

If a guy wants to smoke cannabis at the end of a hard days work, so be it. It is safer then alcohol, and we sure don't jail people for having a glass of wine or beer after they get off of work.

We have spent 40 years trying to get marijuana off of our streets. This has allowed ample time for the Mexican drug cartels to grow bigger, more organized, better armed and more violent. Taking away their cash cow "marijuana", would take away most of the money they use to do all the bad things they do.

[Bert]

I favor early prisoner release as the means of choice for reducing the budget deficit. Reducing prison sentences doesn't negate punishment, rather it demonstrates lenience. The rhetoric that "thousands of rapists and murderers will be released on our streets" is fear mongering. These people, yes prisoners are people, will be released to our streets eventually anyway, once they've paid their debt to society. Why not show charity and reduce their debt? Why not collect a fiscal reward for being a more forgiving society?
As to Duane above, there but for the grace of God go we. I suggest you purchase a Bible and read Matthew particularly 7:12 "As you would have others do unto you do so unto them". Prisoners pay a hard debt. Show some charity. It will make you a better person and improve your chances later when you meet our maker.

[NIKKI]

I AGREE WITH BERT

[These are People]

Bert wrote:

I favor early prisoner release as the means of choice for reducing the budget deficit. Reducing prison sentences doesn't negate punishment, rather it demonstrates lenience. The rhetoric that "thousands of rapists and murderers will be released on our streets" is fear mongering. These people, yes prisoners are people, will be released to our streets eventually anyway, once they've paid their debt to society. Why not show charity and reduce their debt? Why not collect a fiscal reward for being a more forgiving society?
As to Duane above, there but for the grace of God go we. I suggest you purchase a Bible and read Matthew particularly 7:12 "As you would have others do unto you do so unto them". Prisoners pay a hard debt. Show some charity. It will make you a better person and improve your chances later when you meet our maker.

Great job, Bert. Agree with you compltely.

[PAT]

I favor early release. My son is one of the prisoners who fought and took his case to court and lost he didn't hurt or kill anyone but he got an unfair sentence. 15 years that he's only served 5 of. Our judicial system is not fair.