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By LEONARD E. DOBRIN
Rappahannock News Contributing Writer
Thomas H. is serving a threeyear sentence in a state prison for writing a series of bad checks. Amount stolen: $10,000. Cost of keeping him in prison: $60,000.
The Old Dominion is currently facing the prospect of spending hundreds of millions of dollars to construct new prisons to house its overflowing inmate population. Proponents argue that the money will reduce crime.
In fact, we could deal with the Old Dominion’s convicted criminals for a fraction of the cost if we emphasized greater community-based supervision of non-violent offenders.
Consider these facts:
Virginia currently incarcerates about 11,000 adult men and women in its 40 penal institutions. At least 3,000 of these prisoners are non-violent offenders like Thomas. Most have committed crimes against property. Also included in this group are person^ who have violated probation.
Building new facilities to house this number of inmates woulc^.cost
93.3%