Packed Prisons Pollute Environment

With our harsh criminal justice system and limited environmental sensitivity, there is nevertheless a rare intersection of these Alabama traditions reported today in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer by Samira Jafari of the Associated Press. The piece is titled "Growing inmate population means more waste in Alabama's rivers" and it is downright disturbing to see how various authorities are more concerned with the DOC's funding problems than the environment. Everything has a cost. "Lock them up and throw away the key!" could be reserved for the "worst of the worst" yet the trend continues to be the opposite. Sending a minor thug or thugette into the DOC often assures they'll be serious trouble once they get out. We starve the DOC of funding yet want them to reform our inmates on the cheap. Sewage in our rivers and sewage in the society when these folks eventually walk out the door. Great job Alabama! Really doing that long-term thinking and problem solving! Peace ... or War!