TNC
02-26-2005, 09:40 PM
February 26, 2005
Bush's Proposed Cut Could Affect Idaho's Prison System
By Thanh Tan
Boise -
A proposal by President Bush to eliminate a federal grant could affect Idaho's prison system.
The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) reimburses Idaho and its local entities for the cost of incarcerating about 400 undocumented criminals, as well as other expenses such as staff overtime.
The Bush Administration says SCAAP is one of several programs that has not proven to be effective.
If approved by Congress, Ada County stands to lose $70,562 in grant funds, Canyon County would lose $60,669, and the Idaho Dept. of Corrections (DOC) could lose $336,841.
DOC says a portion of their grant is also used to pay for drug and alcohol rehabilitation specialist positions, and it's a method of treating prisoners that some say is important to keep alive.
Mitch Banks, 42, is a former alcoholic who says he was sent to prison five years ago for having too many DUI arrests on his record. He says the pain of leaving behind his six-year-old son, Skyler, helped open the doors to a new life.
"Nothing ever clicked to me until I walked through those doors and said to myself, I don't want to live in prison," Banks said. "I don't want somebody else to raise my son. My job is to take care of that boy."
While in jail, Banks said he was forced to undergo a year-long treatment to confront his substance abuse... and the truth.
"I was able to leave the (prison's) general population and go into a (rehabilitation program) that said to me, 'You have reached the bottom. It doesn't get any lower than going to prison," he said. "Not every prisoner got it, but you know what? I'll bet you if you crunch the numbers, at least 40% of those people didn't return to prison."
A 2004 joint study by the Idaho Dept. of Correction and Boise State University indicates 67 percent of the inmate population in Idaho suffers from significant substance abuse, and experts say offenders who leave prison with proper rehabilitation are more likely to stay out of trouble.
"It's been shown to work. It's research-based. It's something the department focuses on because it helps inmates return to society successfully," said Idaho Dept. of Correction Spokeswoman Stacy McBain.
If the department loses its portion of the SCAAP grant, McBain says they will have to try to dip into internal funds that are already scarce, or ask lawmakers for more money.
Even if that's the case, Mitch Banks says it doesn't diminish the importance of helping offenders find the discipline to kick their substance abuse habits before they are released from jail.
"I honestly believe that's the truth. I believe if they had allowed me to hang out in jail, I'd still be there. And my son would be raised by somebody else," Banks said.
Congress has not decided yet whether to approve the president's request, but the White House says eliminating SCAAP could save the federal government about $300 million.
Bush's Proposed Cut Could Affect Idaho's Prison System
By Thanh Tan
Boise -
A proposal by President Bush to eliminate a federal grant could affect Idaho's prison system.
The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) reimburses Idaho and its local entities for the cost of incarcerating about 400 undocumented criminals, as well as other expenses such as staff overtime.
The Bush Administration says SCAAP is one of several programs that has not proven to be effective.
If approved by Congress, Ada County stands to lose $70,562 in grant funds, Canyon County would lose $60,669, and the Idaho Dept. of Corrections (DOC) could lose $336,841.
DOC says a portion of their grant is also used to pay for drug and alcohol rehabilitation specialist positions, and it's a method of treating prisoners that some say is important to keep alive.
Mitch Banks, 42, is a former alcoholic who says he was sent to prison five years ago for having too many DUI arrests on his record. He says the pain of leaving behind his six-year-old son, Skyler, helped open the doors to a new life.
"Nothing ever clicked to me until I walked through those doors and said to myself, I don't want to live in prison," Banks said. "I don't want somebody else to raise my son. My job is to take care of that boy."
While in jail, Banks said he was forced to undergo a year-long treatment to confront his substance abuse... and the truth.
"I was able to leave the (prison's) general population and go into a (rehabilitation program) that said to me, 'You have reached the bottom. It doesn't get any lower than going to prison," he said. "Not every prisoner got it, but you know what? I'll bet you if you crunch the numbers, at least 40% of those people didn't return to prison."
A 2004 joint study by the Idaho Dept. of Correction and Boise State University indicates 67 percent of the inmate population in Idaho suffers from significant substance abuse, and experts say offenders who leave prison with proper rehabilitation are more likely to stay out of trouble.
"It's been shown to work. It's research-based. It's something the department focuses on because it helps inmates return to society successfully," said Idaho Dept. of Correction Spokeswoman Stacy McBain.
If the department loses its portion of the SCAAP grant, McBain says they will have to try to dip into internal funds that are already scarce, or ask lawmakers for more money.
Even if that's the case, Mitch Banks says it doesn't diminish the importance of helping offenders find the discipline to kick their substance abuse habits before they are released from jail.
"I honestly believe that's the truth. I believe if they had allowed me to hang out in jail, I'd still be there. And my son would be raised by somebody else," Banks said.
Congress has not decided yet whether to approve the president's request, but the White House says eliminating SCAAP could save the federal government about $300 million.