CCJS 100-Several years ago, there were budget hearings

Several years ago, there were budget hearings before the House of Delegates and witness the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety present a massive budget proposal for the construction of new prisons. There was a desperate need for beds to address prison overcrowding and all statistical projections indicated a steady increase in the prison inmate population. Although the constructions would be spread over nearly a decade, the total proposal was hundreds of millions of dollars—just in construction funds. Both the Secretary and members of the committee knew that when the new prison facilities became operational, even more funding would be required to staff and operate the prisons. Still, from a practical sense, there was no doubt these construction funds were necessary—now.

At the budget hearing the Secretary concluded his persuasive remarks requesting the funds to initiate planning and construction. Then he took off his glasses, folded his hands on the desk in front of him, looked around at the elected Delegates on the Budget Committee, and this is what he said.

Now that I have concluded my presentation about how these funds will be spent and the projected needs for bed space they will satisfy, let me make one further request. Do not pass this proposed budget. Vote it down and do not approve these funds. Instead you should take this money and build schools and parks and recreation facilities and hire teachers and counselors and fund support programs for children and teenagers. Initiate and invigorate anti-gang initiatives and anti-drug programs.That is what you should have done twenty years ago. However, because you didn't make that decision twenty years ago, now you have to give me these funds to build more prisons. You really have no choice.

Questions:

What was the message the Secretary was attempting to convey?

Was he right or wrong?

As a Delegate on the State's Budget Committee, how would you vote?

At least 150 words