Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 24, 1993 TAG: 9308240565
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
- Mel Leeman, Marion
Mary Sue Terry:
"First of all, we have a tremendous problem with violent crime here in the commonwealth, and what I have said that we need is to have sufficient prison capacity to get the criminals off the street, which means building the nine prisons which are presently either on the books or under construction in Virginia.
"I happen to believe that we should not be having our prisons run by the private sector. I don't know of any area where privatization of prisons has worked.
"That is not to say that our prisons aren't built by those in the private sector. That's not to say that our prisoners can't be involved in work programs within our prisons so that, more and more, the functions of prisons are performed by prisoners. I believe that we should have work as a condition of parole for our prisoners.
"My opponent from time to time has talked about prisoners taking hotel reservations over 1-800 numbers to promote tourism. There is experience with that particular suggestion in California, where prisoners took credit-card numbers and perpetrated credit-card fraud. So I don't agree with that proposal.
"Nor do I agree with what I think he's been saying about having prisoners making camcorders or turning our prisons into free-enterprise zones. If we've got industries with high-tech, well-paying jobs, I think those ought to go first to our citizens in the private sector as opposed to having those jobs go to convicted felons."
George Allen:
"I want to abolish parole and have violent criminals serve longer sentences. Part of the way we can do this in a more efficient manner is to have the private sector build a prison, and/or manage a prison, if you pay 'em a per diem. There are many studies, and indications from other states, that it can be done in a more cost-effective way and in a safe manner for the citizens. Private prisons, I think, need to be looked at very closely, and I certainly support it, and I want to have private prisons built and managed while I'm governor.
"I would distinguish for folks the difference between private prisons and jails. Prisons are for folks serving more than a year. The jails should continue to be operated by sheriffs."
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Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB