Putting inmates, parolees to work a win-win for state

Our View

Putting inmates, parolees to work a win-win for state

Anyone who has called Arkansas their home for any length of time is very familiar with the problematic issue of prison overcrowding, a situation that dates back to former Gov. Mike Beebe’s administration and beyond.

Although many steps and actions have been taken to address this serious problem, it continues to be an issue for state corrections and elected officials.

Recidivism among parolees – caused by lack of workforce training, unemployment, illegal drugs and other crimes, as well as mental issues – has contributed to a prison system strained to the max.

In light of this, we see where some programs are put in place that all of a sudden are attacked and criticized for everything from prisoners being overworked to them being exposed health issues. Come on folks, let’s stop pandering around and let these worthwhile efforts work without unwarranted interference from a bunch of political pantywaists.

Let’s stop and think for a moment about our state’s prison population and realize the talent and experience some of these convicted felons actually have. The question should be asked such as how to utilize these inmates in a way that will help not only to rehabilitate but also provide a public service to communities.

For instance, we read with interest a news story out of Pine Bluff recently where state inmates and parolees with certain identifiable job skills and those inmates willing to learn were given the chance to take a blightplagued area of a city in the Arkansas Delta and make a serious difference.

Unfortunately, this seemed to be a problem for one convicted robber, who we’re told is a construction worker by trade. That was until he got caught and convicted of robbery and then sent to prison.

The story goes that over the course of seven months, Pine Bluff has benefited from state prisoners tearing down and removing scores of abandoned homes in a seriously blighted area of the city.

The liberal media naturally made a big deal by reporting this: “For the workers, who swung sledgehammers and hauled debris for months on end with the barest of training or protecting gear, covered their mouths with sleeves as clouds of shimmering and potentially toxic dust swirled, it was hardly any bargain at all.”

First of all, this is purely editorializing in a new story.

Second, these reporters, Campbell Robertson and Ethan Tate who are associated with the radical and liberal New York Times, came down to Arkansas to report such liberal trash about an issue that is totally their unprofessional and biased opinion.

This particular project was created and run by Arkansas corrections officials, and its supporters say it is one of the most ambitious projects of its kind in the country. Regardless of what these New York Times idiots report, we applaud our corrections official for utilizing this capable workforce in a way that provides some basic training and experience in the construction environment while also instilling in this felons a sense of self esteem and self confidence.

This, in our opinion, is a prison rehabilitation program that certainly plays a major role in not only addressing prison overcrowding but also does so in a way that may very well address this recidivism issue.

As concerned taxpayers we should commend prison officials behind this program that is proving to be beneficial to all concerned.