Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 15, 1994 TAG: 9409150073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
``Criminal justice reform must aim at preventing crime in the first place, not simply at punishing criminals after the fact,'' said a statement signed by 22 pastors, rabbis, bishops and other church officials.
An organization of defense attorneys and the American Civil Liberties Union also criticized Allen's plan as a ``seriously flawed'' quick fix for a complicated problem.
In another development, Attorney General Jim Gilmore said a proposal by Del. Franklin Hall, D-Richmond, to abolish parole for violent criminals already in prison is unconstitutional. Allen's plan would end parole only for crimes committed after Jan. 1.
Hall had requested an attorney general's opinion on his proposal, which has been embraced by Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Beyer.
Beyer had proposed accomplishing his proposal by revising parole guidelines instead of by statute. Gilmore says that method cannot make such a policy constitutional.
The clergymen shared their views with Allen and Richard Cullen, head of his parole abolition commission, in a private meeting before releasing a statement denouncing the proposal.
``The major problem with the proposal of the governor's commission is that it will squander precious resources on ineffective approaches that do not begin to prevent crime and protect public safety,'' the statement said.
The General Assembly will consider Allen's plan next week. He wants to sell surplus state property and borrow money to build 27 new prisons over the next 10 years. The projected cost: $1 billion.
Beyer and his staff did not return phone calls Wednesday to respond to Gilmore's opinion. Earlier in the day, however, Democratic strategist Paul Goldman predicted Gilmore would decide that Beyer's proposal was unconstitutional and accused the Republicans of "playing politics with the law."
"They're being very clever," said Goldman.
"The fact of the matter is, it's not unconstitutional. They've got no case. They could say, 'Well, they think a court might find it unconstitutional, but what do we have to lose by trying?' I think it's totally political. They want to let these guys out and then blame it on the Democrats and then not have to deal with the consequences of their own plan."
Democrats have complained that Allen will escape the political consequences of Proposal X because his term will expire before the plan's effects become apparent.
The religious officials urged legislators to address ``the root causes'' of violent crime - including poverty, unemployment and drugs - and boost rehabilitation efforts.
Allen has said education, economic development and welfare reform are important parts of an overall crime prevention strategy, but those initiatives take time. The special session that begins Monday, Allen has said, must be limited to abolishing parole and imposing ``truth in sentencing.''
The Virginia College of Criminal Defense Attorneys opposed Allen's plan to use two types of bonds to pay for prison construction, saying that debt financing passes ``the ultimate cost on to our children and their children.'' The ACLU said the state cannot build prisons fast enough to accommodate a projected 32,000-inmate increase by 2005. Forty states already are under court order to reduce prison crowding.
Staff writer Laura Lafay contributed some information to this report.
by CNB