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Introduction
According to (Jensen, 1996), most Departments of correction are incurring challenges in terms of cost and this directly impacts individuals. In order to save cost for the budget, the departments are reducing expenditure on the basic expenses such as lighting and the volume of water being used by inmates as well as installing panels to enhance energy saving. The prisons are also being encouraged to be generating their source of livelihood by engaging in income generating activities such as agriculture, where the inmates can provide labor. Any program that seems not to deliver as targeted is also being considered for elimination as well as reducing excess and unnecessary expenditure such as time allocated for recreation. The workload in the cells is also being considered for reduction by ensuring more inmates in the cells are engaged in community service. The aim of this paper is to address each of these areas where effective reduction in the D.O.C budget is possible.
Essay Body
Research has shown that, if there can be timers in the cells to regulate the consumption of electricity in the cells, it is possible to have them turn off the lights at a certain time of the night such as 11 pm. Prison wanders should be sensitized through energy-saving teams organized by the federal government to conduct training as well as provide an assessment to the personnel on the ground. This should be targeted towards establishing a change implementation plan. Prisons should start using compact-fluorescent tubes that should be turned off if not being used. In case there are recreational facilities such as TVs and computers or any other electronic; it should be turned off whenever it is not in use. Light sensors should also be installed in common rooms and hallways as well as gyms to ensure lights are only on when these facilities are in use. The gadget operates on the motion of the objects and is able to detect when inmates are moving in and out thus putting on and off the light as necessary. (Cole, 2005).
(Freudenberg, 2001) suggested that, the budget on the consumption of water may also be cut down if the number of flashes in the toilets can be regulated to a maximum of two per minute in each toilet allocated to inmates. These should be accompanied by programs to educate the inmates so that there is harmony in implementation as this would make them cooperate. Inmates should only wash their clothes and dishes only when they have a full load that should be specified. Water may also be saved by installing conservacaps to function with the already existing meters for flushing in all the urinals as well as toilets. Although this process is expensive, studies have shown that it is effective in reducing substantial water usage at a low cost. This should start by renovating one of the already existing toilets to study the cost and later expanded when the functionality of the system is proved. The method is efficient because the entire fixture does not have to be replaced when installing this gadget. Research has shown that the system has a capacity to save at least 3million gallons of water every year in a standard correctional center.
Water flow can also be controlled by the use of a one-minute shower push button that resists water vandalism by the inmates. The flow is timed so as to open the flow for about 45 seconds to one minute after when it closes. The facility applies with showers and other minor washing facilities such as those meant for washing hands. The system is designed to regulate heating costs with minimal supervision by even those inmates who have reduced mobility. The push-button showers are designed with infrared mixers that do not require a touch on the operation and are therefore hygienic for the inmates to use even when they are congested. When the infra-red field is broken, the sensor becomes activated and a timed flow of water starts. Research has shown that more than 80% of the normal consumption of water can be saved by the system on yearly basis. In the case of an inmate with limited mobility, the showers are specially designed for them to ensure they do not consume a lot of water corresponding to the time taken by the particular inmate to shower. (Flanagan, 1998).
(Greifinger, 2007) argued that, as one of the measures to reduce energy consumption in the prisons, solar panels can be installed in addition to turbines that are driven by wind. These systems should be put up at facilities owned by states wherever there is enough space. This would provide maximum benefit, especially during summer seasons thus reducing the cost of electricity in the correction centers. This should be done without minding up-front cost and then part of the money saved should be used in servicing the system periodically. Research has indicated that the facility has a capacity to provide at least 30% of the total demand of energy in correction centers which accounts for about 10% of annual demand when peak performance is averaged.
In terms of food consumption, a significant budget can be cut down by involving inmates in agricultural programs through the state’s unutilized agricultural lands. Studies have shown that the program can subsidize the volume of food consumed by inmates by up to 60%. The part of the saved budget should be used to buy other necessary farm inputs to sustain the farming as well as provide transport for the inmates to the agricultural lands in case they are located far from the correction centers. (Johnston, 1976).
According to (Shleifer A. (1997), the correction centers should ensure as much as possible they have not employed workers to perform duties regarding the attendance of the inmates. There should be a properly regulated program that makes maximum use of inmates following duty rosters. Whenever there are inmates being assigned community work, there should be a certain number of them who should be left behind to perform duties such as cooking and washing of utensils as well as washing of the facilities.
Research has shown that some of the inmate’s programs do not deliver the expected outcomes and they end up consuming a significant part of the budget allocated for the inmates at the expense of other basic needs. Such programs should be reduced and where possible eliminated. They include supervision of offenders who are on low as well as moderate risks and any supervision on offenders not accused of a felony. Supervision of inmates on various crimes such as sex offenses also ought to be reduced from about 48 months to 30 months. Those who are not under serious offense should be put under supervision for just 12 months. (Simon, 1992).
Conclusion
Studies have shown that, when inmates are provided with excess recreation time, they are likely to engage in a fight and other forms of assaults that are risky even to other workers. This means an extra budget is incurred as the workers have to be compensated for the damage caused to them. The solution to this problem would be to significantly cut down on the recreation time to as low as one hour. (Bopp, 1976).
It is possible to reduce the challenges being encountered in the most department of correction by cutting down on the consumption of basic necessities such as water as well as save much energy through controlled use of the already existing resources. If this is done, centers for inmates would not require an extra budget and the inmates would also receive better and adequate services which are part of their rights as they get reformed in those facilities. (Dye, 1981).
References
Jensen J. (1996): States and Common Pool Resources: Blackwell Synergy pp45-49.
Cole T. (2005): American Corrections: Thomson Wadsworth pp28-34.
Freudenberg N. (2001): A review of the impact of the correctional programs: Springer pp57-62.
Flanagan J. (1998): Energy & Environmental Visions for the New Millennium: Fairmont Press pp39-44.
Greifinger R. (2007): Public Health Behind Bars: From Prisons to Communities: Springer pp19-24.
Johnston H. (1976): Energy Economy in Government Buildings: Energy Conservation and Energy: Elsevier Science & Technology pp98-103.
Shleifer A. (1997): The Proper Scope of Government: Theory and an Application to Prisons: MIT Press pp37-40.
Simon J. (1992): emerging strategy of corrections and its implications: Blackwell Synergy pp27-31.
Bopp A. (1976): A Naive Economic Model of the Maintenance-Corrections Allocation in a Prison: Lexington Books pp69-75.
Dye T. (1981): Understanding Public Policy: Prentice Hall pp74-79.
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