Our editorial Wednesday noted some costly consequences of Jessica’s Law, including the need for 1,880 more prison beds over the next 10 years, at a possible cost of $192.4 million in construction and $63 million a year for operations, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. The 2007 legislative session could see action on two other tough-on-crime measures: one for repeat drunken drivers that could add 4,000 inmates over the next decade and one sending registered sex offenders back to prison if they are caught in places where kids can be found. Expect more debate on whether Kansas should get into the private prison business but little talk of freeing up capacity by cutting sentences for nonviolent offenders. (Remember the attorney general campaign fight over Senate Bill 323, anyone?)
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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