Schumer Visits a Prison and Misses an Opportunity

NY Senator Chuck Schumer visited Otisville State Prison yesterday and saw a problem. Unfortunately, he missed the solution.

FCI Otisville, like many state and federal prisons in the U.S., is operating well over its capacity. It was built for 844 prisoners and currently holds 1,205. But Schumer's response was to vow to meet with the Bureau of Prisons to push for more funding for the federal system. That might placate unions and corrections officers, but it's not a sustainable solution and Schumer knows it.

Throwing money at our always-expanding prison population won't make it go away and it won't address the systemic problems under which the system is sagging. Schumer is a co-sponsor of Sen. Jim Webb's legislation to convene a blue-ribbon panel to examine the criminal justice system from top of bottom. He knows there are many among the 205,000 federal prisoners in the U.S. who have served too much time already for nonviolent offenses and he should have taken the opportunity yesterday to call for passage of Webb's Criminal Justice Commission and a review of the destructive policies that are filling our prisons.

Yes, overcrowding is an immediate problem and should be addressed as such. I wouldn't oppose an increase in spending to ensure that conditions are safer at our prisons, that prisoners have access to health care, visitation and education. But it would have to come as part of a package that eventually increases our reliance on alternatives to incarceration. 'Lock-em-up' thinking got us into this prison bubble and it'll take a new strategy to get us out. Webb has recognized this strategy and he's talking about it everywhere he goes. Schumer should get on board.

One reform that could alleviate overcrowding through the federal system is the Good Time Bill, which would increase the sentence reductions federal prisoners can earn through good behavior. Federal prisoners can currently earn a maximum of 47 days per year, the bill (which was introduced in the House in March) would expand that to as many as 120.

Change.org blogger and federal prisoner Michael Santos wrote about Webb's leadership and the importance of good time here. Please take action here to support the Good Time bill, and feel free to contact Schumer to tell him he missed the point yesterday and that you support a criminal justice overhaul, not a band-aid.