ALTERNATIVE SENTENCES NEEDED

Costly Space Should Be Reserved For Violent Inmates

Jon Ozmint, the director of the state Department of Corrections, has
stepped forward with a challenge to lawmakers: Either reduce the prison
population by embracing alternative sentencing for nonviolent offenders or
prepare to build new prisons and, therefore, obligate already limited state
resources to Corrections.

Lawmakers have no choice. This state cannot afford to imprison more
criminals, especially for the length of time that has become typical in the
era of mandatory minimum sentences ....

South Carolina should restore some discretion to judges in sentencing. But
more importantly, it must join in a growing national trend of diverting
nonviolent offenders to alternative sentences that require shorter prison
stays or home
detention ....

South Carolinians do not want to be soft on criminals, but they also don't
want lawless, violent prisons where neither inmate nor employee is safe.

Order is another area where mandatory minimum sentences hurt prisons. ..
With no way to reduce a sentence with good behavior, prisoners have little
incentive to seek rehabilitation and avoid trouble....

What lawmakers should strive for is a prison population that doesn't exceed
the state's financial resources and ensure costly bed space is being
reserved for violent inmates....

The fact that Corrections cannot endure more cuts and this state cannot
afford its expansion poses a problem that cannot be ignored because of
electoral politics.

The legislature must pass meaningful, lasting reform next session.