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CNN Saturday Morning News
Interview With Jim Woodrum
Aired December 21, 2002 - 09:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Controversial action in Kentucky this week, more than 500 prisoners being released early for budgetary reasons. The governor explained the decision to CNN's Judy Woodruff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. PAUL PATTON (D), KENTUCKY: That's the one that's absolutely necessary as a part of the solution to Kentucky's severe fiscal revenue shortfall and a situation shared by almost every state in the nation.
JUDY WOODRUFF, ANCHOR: But as I understand it, you're going to save $1.3 million, and more than that if you can keep up this policy of having fewer inmates incarcerated. But what about public safety, governor?
PATTON: It's a problem. We will also probably as a result of this revenue shortfall have fewer police officers available. We will have prosecutors available. We will have fewer public defenders available. We're talking about a 5 percent revenue shortfall in Kentucky, and we're not as bad off as a lot of other states.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: One of those opposed to the early release is Jim Woodrum of the Kentucky Jailers Association, who joins us now from Lexington, Kentucky.
Mr. Woodrum, good to have you with us.
JIM WOODRUM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KENTUCKY JAILERS ASSOCIATION: Thank you for having me here.
O'BRIEN: All right. Times are tight, budgets are budgets. Where else you going to cut?
WOODRUM: Well, you know, we -- the jailers' association in Kentucky, which represents all 120 counties, obviously opposed the governor's actions to release these prisoners from jails. Obviously the purpose is to reduce funds, but we believe that in the long haul, there will be money saved by the state, but that costs will be transferred to county government and to the citizens of Kentucky by higher crime rates.
O'BRIEN: Well, let me ask you this. Most of the people that are being released are -- have been charged under less violent crimes, correct?
WOODRUM: Well, I think that depends on how you classify those inmates, because the release, according to the Department of Corrections in their Web page, say inmates that were released were felons convicted -- in possession of firearms, escape charges, arson charges, intimidating witnesses, as well as burglary and some of the lesser offenses.
So...
O'BRIEN: Lot of, lot of drug charges...
WOODRUM: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)-
O'BRIEN: ... theft...
WOODRUM: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... arson, you know, DUIs, that sort of thing. I guess it might be worth exploring the root issue here of how we're filling up our prisons and our jails. There's -- I think the population now in this country is about 2 million. And I guess you have to ask the question, is -- what good is that doing anybody?
WOODRUM: Well, you know, I think the citizens of the country and particularly of the commonwealth, but of the nation in general, expect our legislators to pass laws and set sentences. And they expect their law enforcement people to enforces those sentences -- to enforce those laws.
O'BRIEN: Well, but they want people to be tough on crime, but they don't want to pay the some $30 billion it takes to warehouse all those people, do they?
WOODRUM: That appears to be the case, yes.
O'BRIEN: So how do you solve that problem? You're a jailer. You have -- should have some insights.
WOODRUM: Well, I don't know, I think education is obviously one way to do it, but at the same time, I think we have to let the people know what this is costing and I think...
O'BRIEN: What, what -- I'm sorry, what do you mean by education, though? What do you mean?
WOODRUM: Well, I think educating our public about when they go to our legislators and ask for particular offenses and tougher sentences, we need to let them know what that's costing whenever they do that.
O'BRIEN: All right. Is the public at risk by this action, Mr. Woodrum?
WOODRUM: Certainly, I think so. O'BRIEN: All right. Jim Woodrum, Kentucky Jailers Association, thanks for weighing in on this controversial decision. We appreciate it.
WOODRUM: Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 21, 2002 - 09:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Controversial action in Kentucky this week, more than 500 prisoners being released early for budgetary reasons. The governor explained the decision to CNN's Judy Woodruff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. PAUL PATTON (D), KENTUCKY: That's the one that's absolutely necessary as a part of the solution to Kentucky's severe fiscal revenue shortfall and a situation shared by almost every state in the nation.
JUDY WOODRUFF, ANCHOR: But as I understand it, you're going to save $1.3 million, and more than that if you can keep up this policy of having fewer inmates incarcerated. But what about public safety, governor?
PATTON: It's a problem. We will also probably as a result of this revenue shortfall have fewer police officers available. We will have prosecutors available. We will have fewer public defenders available. We're talking about a 5 percent revenue shortfall in Kentucky, and we're not as bad off as a lot of other states.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: One of those opposed to the early release is Jim Woodrum of the Kentucky Jailers Association, who joins us now from Lexington, Kentucky.
Mr. Woodrum, good to have you with us.
JIM WOODRUM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KENTUCKY JAILERS ASSOCIATION: Thank you for having me here.
O'BRIEN: All right. Times are tight, budgets are budgets. Where else you going to cut?
WOODRUM: Well, you know, we -- the jailers' association in Kentucky, which represents all 120 counties, obviously opposed the governor's actions to release these prisoners from jails. Obviously the purpose is to reduce funds, but we believe that in the long haul, there will be money saved by the state, but that costs will be transferred to county government and to the citizens of Kentucky by higher crime rates.
O'BRIEN: Well, let me ask you this. Most of the people that are being released are -- have been charged under less violent crimes, correct?
WOODRUM: Well, I think that depends on how you classify those inmates, because the release, according to the Department of Corrections in their Web page, say inmates that were released were felons convicted -- in possession of firearms, escape charges, arson charges, intimidating witnesses, as well as burglary and some of the lesser offenses.
So...
O'BRIEN: Lot of, lot of drug charges...
WOODRUM: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)-
O'BRIEN: ... theft...
WOODRUM: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... arson, you know, DUIs, that sort of thing. I guess it might be worth exploring the root issue here of how we're filling up our prisons and our jails. There's -- I think the population now in this country is about 2 million. And I guess you have to ask the question, is -- what good is that doing anybody?
WOODRUM: Well, you know, I think the citizens of the country and particularly of the commonwealth, but of the nation in general, expect our legislators to pass laws and set sentences. And they expect their law enforcement people to enforces those sentences -- to enforce those laws.
O'BRIEN: Well, but they want people to be tough on crime, but they don't want to pay the some $30 billion it takes to warehouse all those people, do they?
WOODRUM: That appears to be the case, yes.
O'BRIEN: So how do you solve that problem? You're a jailer. You have -- should have some insights.
WOODRUM: Well, I don't know, I think education is obviously one way to do it, but at the same time, I think we have to let the people know what this is costing and I think...
O'BRIEN: What, what -- I'm sorry, what do you mean by education, though? What do you mean?
WOODRUM: Well, I think educating our public about when they go to our legislators and ask for particular offenses and tougher sentences, we need to let them know what that's costing whenever they do that.
O'BRIEN: All right. Is the public at risk by this action, Mr. Woodrum?
WOODRUM: Certainly, I think so. O'BRIEN: All right. Jim Woodrum, Kentucky Jailers Association, thanks for weighing in on this controversial decision. We appreciate it.
WOODRUM: Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
