Link
That is some backwards thinking by a poor state like Alabama. Anytime you spend that much on prisons, you have to find a way to fill them in order to justify the cost. Why not spend that money on things that reduce the likelihood of people going to prison? Education, jobs, drug treatment facilities, etc. That money could build a new stadium for a pro sports team (ex: Birmingham Jaguars), which would generate all kinds of revenue for the state and give people something other than bammer football to look forward to. Why not use the money to make Alabama a year round vacation destination and generate tourism revenue? But this is a microcosm of how this country deals with big problems as a whole. Throw money at the effect and ignore the cause.
$800 million
24,000 prisoners
$33,333 per prisoner
$800 million could pay 4 years in state tuition for 76,746 Auburn students
$800 million could pay 3,200 people $50K for 5 years (ex: teachers, drug counselors, highway patrol)
That is some backwards thinking by a poor state like Alabama. Anytime you spend that much on prisons, you have to find a way to fill them in order to justify the cost. Why not spend that money on things that reduce the likelihood of people going to prison? Education, jobs, drug treatment facilities, etc. That money could build a new stadium for a pro sports team (ex: Birmingham Jaguars), which would generate all kinds of revenue for the state and give people something other than bammer football to look forward to. Why not use the money to make Alabama a year round vacation destination and generate tourism revenue? But this is a microcosm of how this country deals with big problems as a whole. Throw money at the effect and ignore the cause.
$800 million
24,000 prisoners
$33,333 per prisoner
$800 million could pay 4 years in state tuition for 76,746 Auburn students
$800 million could pay 3,200 people $50K for 5 years (ex: teachers, drug counselors, highway patrol)
