Texas Prison System Budget Cuts - Essay Example

The article is based on the news report in 2011 in Dallas Texas concerning the issue of the state’s prison system budget cuts, which is continuing at present as a significant concern in the criminal justice system (Jennings, 2011; Clear, Cole & Reisig, 2012, p.23; Reid, 2011). This article tries to emphasize the imminent danger of discontentment in the prison system due to the prevailing budget cuts (Jennings, 2011). The article is also trying to show the idea from the standpoint of a prison expert telling some remarkable disadvantages if the budget for the prison system has to undergo some necessary cutbacks. Robert Worley, a criminal justice professor at Texas pointed out that cutting prison’s amenities would have staggering impacts on the way everything would run in the prison system (Jennings, 2011). Based on the report Worley emphasized that a well-fed inmate that is happy for instance is the one that would have the more positive drive to cooperate, making it easy on the part of the prison administrator to manage everything as smoothly as possible.

The federal government and specifically the states wrestle with the country’s challenging economic times and the criminal justice system has evidently struggled to create the necessary adjustment, so as not to compromise the standard quality service in ensuring the maximum safety of the society (Justice Policy Institute, 2013). One particular initiative in order to maximize the chance of survival is to consider allocating the right budget plan for the associated cost of incarceration. Policies are trying to balance everything, creating a way and meeting halfway the relevant needs of every concern. Although it is not an assurance that all needs will be well considered, the government is trying to create the most efficient way how to implement the allocated budget for the prison system without trying to create a high value for discontentment.       

            The above report is of important consideration because it concerns many significant issues. One particular point is the issue of savings and the associated changes with this initiative. This means the government has to understand the value of sacrifice and the advantages and disadvantages linked up with it. It is a matter of understanding whether the associated costs would be far below the advantages to be generated. In the present time by which the US economic standing is currently recuperating, it is definitely hard to keep everything in order just as the way when everything from the past would run smoothly for everyone.

            Another significant concern is the idea of how to implement the budget without creating a substantial impact on the entire prison system in Texas. This is way too hard to employ as some prison experts and advocates would try to promote the idea of a humanitarian cause. For instance, Worley tries to point out the idea of small changes and turnover concerns. In issues like this, it is therefore important to come up with a remarkable basis and to weigh things as remarkably as possible for the benefit of everyone and not only for the chosen few. The issue of budget cuts in the prison system is very controversial as there are other relevant issues that could relate to it that in the long run would also create some necessary impacts on society.       

            The article tries to conclude the report by showing the amount already set up for budget implementation and the associated savings that were generated so far. In other words, the author tried to showcase both sides of the coin and fairly have given the readers the opportunity to assess the government’s prevailing initiative concerning the associated financial management in the prison system particularly in the state of Texas. Furthermore, the readers would have a better way to grasp the relationships between the small changes and turnover concerns. The author was trying to give us a clear perspective so as to direct us to the appropriate and necessary things to do. 

            The ongoing move to go for budget cuts in the prison system particularly in the state of Texas is at some point a temporary move just to recover from a very expensive economic loss. In this way, there would be relevant moves to be considered that are not costly enough, but at some point would not compromise the quality of the prison system. It is therefore important to study more meaningful policies that are cost-efficient but would serve their purpose well. Although this is going to be a challenging effort, there is however not impossible if everyone has the same mindset and would be willing to cooperate for the benefit of everyone especially while the state is in the midst of restoring the US economy back to its normal setting.