Editorials
Prison closings are a mixed bag, but mostly good
TBO.com
Published: January 15, 2012
Sometimes good news generates bad news for some people, but there's nothing wrong with hearing that the state plans to close 11 correctional facilities over the next two years.Published: January 15, 2012
It means that we are warehousing fewer Floridians and our crime rates reflect that.
The Florida Department of Corrections announced last week that seven state prisons and four work camps would be closed for a savings of about $90 million, according to The Associated Press.
The prisons being closed are the Broward Correctional Institution in Ft. Lauderdale, Demilly Correctional Institution in Polk City, Gainesville Correctional Institution in Alachua County, Hillsborough Correctional Institution near Tampa, Indian River Correctional Institution in Vero Beach, Jefferson Correctional Institution in Monticello and both units of New River Correctional Institution in Raiford, according to the AP.
The work camps closing are the River Junction Work Camp in Chattahoochiee, Caryville Work Camp in Washington County, Hendry Work Camp in Immokalee and Levy Forestry Camp in Ocala.
No prisons in Highlands or Hardee counties were named in the closures, so that's good news. The bad news, though, is that about 1,300 other jobs could be affected by the closures. The state says it will do all it can to save those jobs with transfers, but it's impossible to keep most of them.
Prison jobs are important employers in many parts of the state. It's tough work, but the pay is decent and the benefits are good. In a few places, prison jobs are some of the best around. We hate to see good workers losing their jobs.
Of course, the best news is that these prison beds are not needed anymore. That means inmate populations are dropping or that the need for them was overestimated in the first place. We hope it's that less crimes are happening, which means few people are in our prisons.
Recent crime statistics show that the crime rate as a whole has dropped over the last several years. Compared to past decades, we live in a much safer place than most of us imagine. News of heinous crimes being committed can give the false impression that we're under siege, but law enforcement has been doing a good job catching bad guys.
We hope more prisons can be closed in coming years. Despite the job losses, that's good news for everyone.