When Bob McDonnell is sworn in as Governor in January he will inherit a budget that is out of balance by at least $1.35 Billion. Spending on correction is expanding faster than nearly all others sectors of the budget and is an area that Governor McDonnell must look to for savings. I realize that it is unusual for a conservative to suggest cuts in the criminal justice system. Public safety is one of the primary responsibilities of government, and the fast rising costs of prisons have been viewed by conservatives as the price tag for protecting the public.

However, the current budget crisis requires us to examine every facet of state spending to find ways to make state government more efficient. The Department of Corrections is no exception. If the legislature doesn’t adopt reforms that reduce the cost of prisons, corrections costs will devour ever larger portions of the budget.

The challenge is finding economies in the justice system while keeping the public safe. Fortunately, conservative legislators in several other states have been able to accomplish that, and by applying the policies that have proven effective elsewhere, Virginia can pare the costs of our prisons without sacrificing public safety.

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