ate someone for a year and it costs at least $50,000 to construct one prison bed.(Varnam 16) With work programs these numbers would be significantly reduced. Prisoners could construct their own housing and supply their own food. If they refuse to work, then they do not eat(Sanchez 26 Nov.1994).Many people believe that building new jails will solve the problems. New prisons would temporarily relieve the overcrowding problem. However, the new prisons would soon fill up as the courts convict more criminals to fill the empty beds and then we are right back where we started. As mentioned earlier, building jails is also expensive. It costs at least $50,000 to construct one prison bed (Varnam 16). Work programs would immediately relieve prison overcrowding as the non-violent criminals move to their work areas and if new prisons are absolutely necessary in the future then the convicts can help build them and therefore greatly decrease the cost.How will new prisons help deter crime and rehabilitate prisoners? The simple answer is they will not. New prisons will only cater to the serious problems that exist in the system and make room for new criminals. This proposal will stop overcrowding, help to deter crime, and help to rehabilitate criminals. The only way to make the prison system work is to change it. Many polls show crime is the No. 1 concern of voters so now is the time for action (AP Nov. 9, 1994). ...
