In part three of purely incidental series on Indiana's wrongs and rights, we take a look at the rising numbers of prison inmates and the reasons for which they are behind bars.
With Gov. Mitch Daniel's proposed spending freeze, Indiana's prison system is looking for ways to conserve money to keep within operating costs over the coming years. But in order to do that, the system must first take a look at why the inmates are there to begin with.
According to Department of Correction Commissioner J. David Donahue, at least 74 percent of the state's inmates are in prison because of drugs.
That's almost three-fourths of Indiana's inmates locked away for something that, all things considered, is quite preventable.
Instead, Indiana has opted to work out prison rehabilitation systems that help get drug-addicted or dealing inmates back on sober feet. Work release and drug treatment programs are just a few of the ways the system is working to prepare inmates for when they leave prison.
Tuesday, Gov. Daniels announced that Indianapolis community service leader Paula Parker-Sawyers would head the state's new Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Amongst the initiative's first programs: treating drug addicts and helping prison inmates. Gov. Daniels' reasoning being that "faith-based programs have proven success records."
So should anti-drug campaigns.
As we've said all week: Indiana likes to do things backwards. This is just another instance where such a practice needs to stop. With this, and many other state matters, Indiana simply needs to be more proactive, not retroactive.
If the state wanted to manage it's resources and budget properly, it would use them to cut down the drug problem at its source. Although rehabilitation is a great idea, it gets a little redundant after 17,000 or so inmates. Sure, that number speaks wonders of the state's drug policy, but it also shows that a lot could be done before it is too late.
Education, for instance, is a big factor in deterring drugs from children and would-be dealers at a young age. However, countless hours of D.A.R.E. courses can still not replace the value of proper parenting.
The most important drug education comes in the home, where parents take the time to explain the true effects and consequences of drugs. In the end, information is still the true anti-drug.
Spraying aside, ask any gardener: The only real way to get rid of weeds is by eliminating them at their roots.
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