Every couple of months we hear about how the Alabama prisons are going to be taken over by the federal government if we don’t do something.
What is that something?
There are only two real options: build new prisons or let people out of prison.
You know this, I know this, and every politician in the state that has held office for the last 20 years knows this.
We also know that we aren’t going to let people out of prison.
State prisons are full of people who need to be in prison. This isn’t a county jail. These are often violent offenders or repeat violent offenders.
Spare me the, “But what about the drug crimes?” Those people aren’t creating the overcrowding in state prisons.
So, we need to build new facilities, but who is going to do it?
The legislature? No. They had years to do this and have no interest in doing so.
The governor? Yes. She supported gas taxes, toll bridges and a statewide stay at home order, no matter the unpopularity of these things.
Is this latest issue going to push voters over the edge? No.
She crushed Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox in a primary and then general election, respectively.
She is there to get stuff done, and she’s doing it.
So what is the legislature going to do now?
Nothing.
They can talk about potentially having conversations and more.
They will complain and moan in tweets sent out at 12:39 a.m.
Alabama is about to spend 3 billion dollars over 30 years on building new prisons that won’t fix the problems within our prison system. Also, as a reminder, after paying the money, at the end of 30 years, we won’t own either the buildings or the land they sit on.
— Chris England (@RepEngland70) February 1, 2021
Advocacy groups will tell us how terrible this is.
@GovernorKayIvey & @ALCorrections promised Alabama taxpayers would never pay more than $88 million per year to lease these prisons. Turns out it will cost $94 million in the first year. Then, the price goes up every year for 30 years. 2/3 #alpolitics https://t.co/o8YDPsVurn
— Alabama Appleseed (@AlaAppleseed) February 1, 2021
Sanctimonious figures in the media will warn you of doom and gloom.
Alabama should know by now that this is a recipe for failure, corruption and indebtedness. https://t.co/49JAuYfL9Y
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) February 1, 2021
Maybe some criminals will chime in?
As someone who served time in the ADOC- the solution to their problem.
1) Do away w/ Habitual Offender Law
2) Release Aged and Infirmed
3) Grant Paroles
4) Release ALL Technical Violators
5) Good Time for ALL— David Garlock (@DavidLeegarlock) February 1, 2021
And nothing will happen.
The legislature is absolutely thrilled that Governor Kay Ivey is taking the bullet on this.
They can claim, “Wasn’t me!”
They can say, “I didn’t spend $3 billion on new prisons! It was the governor!”
They will do nothing.
These prisons will be built. It is the right thing to do, and one person with no political risk will take all the heat.
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.
