New Mexico Liberty

Life, Liberty, Politics and Policy in the Land of Enchantment!

Lee Kershner

How Much does New Mexico spend on prisons vs universities

Strapped States Are Bullish For Private Prisons

Andy Obermueller, 03.18.10, 04:15 PM EDT

California and other large states facing a fiscal mess need to cut costs. That's good news for Corrections Corp. of America.






Paul, you do a good job ferreting out statistics.  Help us with this one.

 

FORBES, 3/18/10  


"I just stumbled upon some interesting data from the federal government: The average wage of the 15.2 million employees in California, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $48,090. That comes out to about $23.12 an hour.

Very low on the scale are private security guards, who earn an average of $25,950. Bailiffs earn just under $49,000. Yet relatively high on the scale are state prison guards, who can, with overtime, easily earn more than $100,000 a year. By contrast, a kindergarten teacher in the Golden State can expect to pull down an average of $56,540.

 

YyYou think that's odd, try this statistic on for size: Fully 9.5% of the California state budget is allocated toward prisons. Only 5.7%, by comparison, goes to universities.

Twenty-five years ago, prisons were 4% of the budget. Higher education represented 11% of the state budget.

The prison guards union has historically been one of the most powerful in the state. No state pays guards more. And these jobs are very secure: If Sacramento is facing the squeeze and has to furlough state workers, prison guards are one of the few groups that are exempt and must stay on the job. . . . ."

 

 

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Paul BorundaPermalink Reply by Paul Borunda on March 19, 2010 at 6:52am
Correction Corps of America is but one industry, that has pocketed much of the tax dollars in every state of the union. And the numbers and or statistics money wise, will only increase as the continued violations of the citizens protected constitutional rights continue.

Police, Judges, District Attorneys, Attorney Generals and State elected representatives through out this nation back more putative laws passed to secure job security for themselves and the millions of staff hired to enforce justice upon the people of this country and the State of New Mexico.

The rule of law is only as good as those that are enforcing it, the men in black who view themselves as honorable and depend on campaign contributions as do the elected body of any state, pander to the prison industry.

Unconscionable, is to mild a word to use on these criminals who instill their power dressed in black robes over the people of this country and politicians who pound on the podiums of city, county and state capitols of this nation.

As mentioned, Sacramento is only one state away from New Mexico how ever the rulings and those that rule are blood brothers in one common cause and that is job security and continued power over the masses. Dictated by political abuse of power granted by the seeming endless citizens who are to busy to notice, in their every day movements of survival.

And then you have thousands of staffers who over look the obvious violations of the laws against the citizens, yet feel job security over rides the rule of law.

Yes !, indeed the prison industry is here to stay and justice and the rule of law is only as good as those that wear the black robes.

Governor Richardson and his administration continue to pat themselves on the back for creating jobs in New Mexico, by opening prisons in every tiny, economic poor and jobless community in New Mexico. And the campaign contributions sure helped the pocket, during an election cycle. And they want eight more years of the same, insane governor ship over the people.

They are nothing more than carpet baggers and criminals in black robes and gray suit's and shiny badge's.

P.S....Thank God for term limit's and hopefully soon an end to ( Judge retentions ) in New Mexico.............
Lee KershnerPermalink Reply by Lee Kershner on March 19, 2010 at 9:11am
Thanks for the reply but I was referring to Paul Gessing who when he isn't ranting generalities about liberals and dictators can do really important analysis of how the state spends our money. Mr. Gessing, how much does New Mexico spend collectively on prisons and universities? How much individually? Is the trend away from monies spent on education to more on prisons? If so, why?
Mike BlessingPermalink Reply by Mike Blessing on March 19, 2010 at 1:09pm
how much does New Mexico spend collectively on prisons and universities?

Whatever the numbers, it's probably too much being spent on both. Don't forget that the budget and spending books are most likely cooked, both at the Santa Fe end and at the individual prisons and universities.

Ask Gordon Bennett what happened to the Ø560,000 donated to CNM's Photonics program by Intel and Schott Solar while he was the chair of that program in 2008.
Mike BlessingPermalink Reply by Mike Blessing on March 19, 2010 at 1:02pm
The rule of law is only as good as those that are enforcing it, the men in black who view themselves as honorable and depend on campaign contributions as do the elected body of any state, pander to the prison industry.

Just wanted to add that those who make the laws must also be honorable, otherwise we have thousands of people in prison for victimless crimes. For example, how many are incarcerated due to Prohibition Part II, otherwise known as the War on Drugs?

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