George,

The problems of state responsible prisoners in local jails is just another example of the mess that Governor Warner inherited from the previous administrations. The state is abrogating its responsibility both to these prisoners and to the localities by not fairly compensating the localities or housing inmates in state prisons. Serious overcrowding has also resulted.

It is ironic that after the prison building spree of the Allen administration that we are in this situation. We have more state beds than we need. For awhile the state was renting beds to out of state inmates, but the oppressive policies of Ron Angelone caused some states to move their inmates better environments and so the state prison system is facing even more severe fiscal distress. The state is now talking about closing some of the existing prisons because we don't need the space.

There is no excuse for making the localities pick up the tab for state prisoners. But, until members of the General Assembly are willing to admit that we may need to do something on the revenue side to correct the mess created by Allen and Gilmore, or are willing to make draconian cuts in expenditures, I'm afraid that very little will change.

Mitch Van Yahres (electronic mail, August 12, 2002)