Comment on a colleague's work

Lilian Ordonez wrote an informative commentary on her blog “Long Live Texas” about the Tulia Texas video showed in our Texas Government class. I think she did a really nice job. Lilian started of by expressing her feeling in regard to the video and then gave a brief summary of the video. Her concise summery was an essential part of her commentary. It provided the necessary information for readers, even those who might not have seen the video.

I felt the same way when watched the video. How can any human being accuse somebody else of a crime that he did not commit? What Coleman did could have destroyed many lives, not only the incarcerated many, but their family and children were affected by his accusation. The scariest thing is that those forty people arrested by Coleman could have been still in prison if not for the commentary and the public interest. 

I agree with Lilian’s statement that the undercover policeman actions were clearly racism. The proof was actually presented in the BBC video. How come out of the 43 arrest, 42 were minorities? The lack of evidence was another proof to revisit the whole case and the Coleman’s statement and background.

Original

Can a 70 year old diabetic with recently amputated limb harm anybody? That is the question that came to my mind when I thought about all the state money Texas spends caring for the elderly and sick inmates. Out of 160,000 offender prison population 8,526 are “geriatric” inmates, 55 and older. These inmates have average annual hospitalization cost of $4,700, compare to $765 for inmates under 55. When we add these numbers, the Texas correctional health care system face nearly half a billion dollar a year cost. Like many other governmental institute, this health care system is facing a budget shortfall, even after hundreds of employee layoffs. Knowing all these facts, makes me wonder why can’t there be more inmate release on medical parole?

There is a routine process where the prison doctors recommend the oldest and the sickest of the inmates for a medical parole to the State Parole Board. Over the past decade 4,000 have been offered up, but only a quarter of those inmates were released on medical parole. The rest of those terminally ill or old inmates who only have a couple of month to live die in prison on the taxpayer dime. Why can’t they go back to society, spend their last couple of month of their lives with their loved ones?

The state could actually benefit from this! I am not suggesting releasing anybody who got flu, but I’m talking about those who are “too incapacitated to be a public threat.” It is true that the Texas total prison population is not growing fast, on the other hand that population is aging quickly. With the rising health care cost, the 6 percent rise of geriatric inmates looks frightening.

It might not be the only answer, but increasing the number of release on medical parole can me a logical answer.