Hide Your Kids, Hide Your Wife.

     Austin, we have a serious issue on our hands. It appears that the money tree in Texas is no longer providing our wonderful state the ripe dollar bills we love and are accustomed to harvesting. No fruit equals no nourishment. No money equals no funding. Lame attempt at a metaphor or clever figure or speech, you decide; however that is essentially what is happening. Texas is facing a monumental budget shortage, causing the Capitol to take whatever desperate measures they can to stop the bleeding. Programs all over the state are getting the axe, very notably public education and its downward tumble. It looks as though the prison system is next in line for the almighty slash.
     The state has proposed to release prisoners who have been incarcerated due to non-violent reasons and instead, they would be placed in treatment and rehabilitation facilities. The mission is to potentially save the state the money that would be spent on sheltering inmates. In an editorial written in the Houston Chronicle by an undisclosed author, the written work is intended for the readers of the general population. When we hear that prisoners are seriously being considered for release in mass numbers, it is inevitable that some will began to question the logic and try to make sense, if any, of it. I think the author of this editorial wants to try to present a different side and thought process to this controversial matter.
     We are able to base the credibility of this author due to source the editorial was published in. In this case, being the Houston Chronicle, the source happens to be the biggest newspaper in the state of Texas, as well as ranking in the top ten of all national newspapers. The author of the text believes that this solution is indeed sensible, and that rehab and treatment should be the preferred course of action regardless of budget cut or not. The author refers to the large volume of foreign nationals, particularly from Mexico, inside of Texas prisons that are being held for non-violent reasons. Of the 12,000 that are currently being housed, 3,000 of those are being detained for non-violent reasons. By deporting those 3,000 instead of continuing to incarcerate them, the state can save up to 54 million annually. This particular author thinks that with assurance of public safety, this proposal certainly does have possibilities. The logic behind this personally seems flawed to me. I honestly don't think it is possible to fully guarantee the safety of citizens. There is no definite way or process to determine future behavior of inmates, and to assure that their re-entrance to society is a smooth process for them and their surroundings. Having said that, my biggest concern with the authors opinion is about principle. When we engage in illegal activity, we must be aware of the potential consequences we impose on ourselves. One of those consequences very well may be serving an X amount of time inside a prison cell. Deciding to release these prisoners would be sending a message that serious breach of the law would merely result in essentially a slap on the wrist. In my viewpoint, the fear or being stripped of my liberties and privileges inside a penitentiary would make me less inclined to commit such actions. Even with the good and honest intent of rehab facilities, how can we really know if these former inmates will really take it with full seriousness and have true intent to better themselves.While it appears likely that the author might just get their wish, it seems as though to many unanswered questions are left on the table to fully satisfy the skeptics out there.


 Houston Chronicle.Get out of jail card? Releasing prisoners to trim budget has possibilities http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/7439705.html  Feb. 22, 2011

Not In His House!

     Due to amazing technological advancements, we've gone from cell-phones that take the shape of a brick, and evolved them into razor thin smart phones that are capable of some of the most absurd things such as starting a car with a touch of a simple button! In an age where smart phones are the new standard and the "in" thing to own, we have been empowered with countless luxuries and conveniences. However, it is true what they say, power in the wrong hands is dangerous. Many cell phone users are linked to starting a pandemic know as "sexting", which refers to sending explicit photos through picture messages to another party. The percentage of sexters has progressively grown over the years which has caused concern by higher authorities.
     So all of you naughty kids and raging hormone adolescents beware, theirs a chance your sexting privileges can be revoked if Austin Senator Kirk Watson has something to say about the matter . Watson has filed a bill that would make sexting by children a distinct crime and would create an educational program that would attempt to impede the growing issue of sexting. Under proposed Bill 407, first time offenders could be thrown a fine and a class C misdemeanor while 3rd time offenders could face potential jail time up to a year as well as a class A misdemeanor. It would give also give Judges the right to assign teens as well as parents to attend anti-sexting courses. Even recipients of sexts are susceptible to punishments under this bill. So beware, not only can sexting cause emotional repercussions, it can lead you into a whole heap of legal problems as well. Lets keep it PG-13 won't we!