Comments on: Judge Blasts State Prisons Over Hepatitis Care

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 02:32:44 +0000

Argue all you want.
The inmates will get it

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 16:10:06 +0000

@john….unfortunately, the courts don’t care. I believe supreme court precedent states prisons will provide health care for those incarcerated under their watch.

In addition, while I have no issue with the death penalty in certain situations, once again a choice has to be made. Studies indicate it cost 3+ times more in Florida to sentence someone to life in prison than to execute them. Reason being, it takes 20+ years to get through the appeals process and as a Florida taxpayer, you get to pick up all the fees associated with that.

From an article on the subject I stumbled across “Florida Spent Average of $3.2 Million per Execution from 1973 to 1988″. Like everything else, I promise you the cost has continued to rise.

In other words, its not as easy at just saying, “kill them all”.

By: john

john — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 12:35:16 +0000

I don’t think the prison system should have to supply healthcare. If I fell on hard times and had to go live with my Aunt Bessie would she pay for my health insurance? absolutely not! She may feed me a meal or two, but anything other than that would be pushing it. What we are doing as a nation is unwittingly encouraging bad people to do crimes, because they know they will only go on vacation after they commit. What we should do with our prison system is this: execute all murderers, rapists, and child molester, drug dealers; then for all other offenders if you come to prison a third time then you get executed. End of story that will save billions.

By: Donna

Donna — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 12:25:19 +0000

Sad that citizens that do not commit crimes and choose to go to work everyday . These citizen either can’t afford health care or have it and can’t afford out of pocket high deductibles to even get treatment . But yet out government wants us to keep paying taxes so these low life’s can have good free health care !!
We live in a mixed up messed country I don’t know about you but a free country we are not ! The low life’s non working citizens are sucking us dry !!!!

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 01:48:39 +0000

I’m with you Alan.
Private corporations have no business in the incarceration business. By the way, the schools to prison pipeline system is running well to guarantee long term occupancy rates.

By: alan

alan — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 20:16:27 +0000

@Jason …. it does not matter how many of them would of pursued treatment on the outside nor does it matter what level of healthcare you believe they should receive. The judicial branch has concluded prisoners are wards of the State and as such, are required to give them adequate health care, including treatment for Hep-C.

And unlike you, I am concerned about the taxes and fees I pay to house inmates. I believe there are other punishments beside excessive prison time, which is being used to enrich others, that would be just as successful.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:59:49 +0000

@Alan….. one of the simplest ways for an inmate to avoid all the issues you complain about, is not to commit any crimes and risk the chance of being incarcerated.

Of the 7,000 people who might be Hep-C positive, how many do you think would actually be seeking treatment if they were outside the prison fence versus receiving their three hots and a cot? IMHO, the answer would be, “Not many if they had to fork over the money to pay for the medication”.

As far as the new kiosk, they are a win/win for inmates, their families and for the institution. I could care less that its a “for profit” company doing the install and generating the sales of the service. The company takes all the risks – from install, servicing and repairs.

The families no longer have the burden of vehicle travel to the institution to visit with those incarcerated. These fees charged for the visitation via the kiosk will be paid for by the families and its a whole lot cheaper than jumping in the car and riding to the institution. This type of visitation also eliminates the introduction or smuggling of contraband by visitors. It frees up staff to handle other issues versus babysitting visitation.

IMHO, the prison system should be providing the very basic of health care. Here is a bandage and some peroxide if they are bleeding. If they need aspirin, let the inmates buy it from commissary. If they require a prescription, let the inmates pay for it. Why should the taxpayers subsidize a Cadillac plan of med care?Its not in the taxpayer best interest for an inmate doing life to live long-term in prison. No need to offer long-term healthcare option and medication to a “lifer” or those on death row. Those incarcerated didnt care about their actions while committing crimes, why should the taxpayer care about them as they rot away in prison?

As far as expensive phone calls, who cares? The for profit system paid to install and maintain the phones. The institution gets a rebate which helps lower the cost of operations of the institution for us taxpayers. the cost of those phone calls are paid for by the inmates family. they dont have to accept the calls. Last time I checked they can still write a letter and send “snail mail” for 49 cents. No need to have daily or weekly or even monthly phone calls.

Yep, no sympathy from this taxpayer. Despite the alleged horribleness of the prison lifestyle, so many folks dont seem to care while they are committing crimes or while re-offending once they have been released.

Take your sob story elsewhere. The only ones sobbing with you are those incarcerated or their family.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 13:43:43 +0000

Just the simple math. 7,000 inmates, the low end of the estimate, times $37,000 dollars per treatment, is $259M. The upper end estimate of 20,000 inmates would come to $740M. The FDOC has asked for an additional $19M to help treat the epidemic. That is like putting out a forest fire with a thimble.

Florida ranks at 8th in US incarceration rates, has some of the harshest minimum sentencing guidelines, requires 85% minimum time served, and has completely done away with parole. Florida puts more people in Prison and then ensures they stay there longer than just about any other State. Why? I am going to guess money.

Could it be that companies make political contributions to Florida’s legislators who in turn pass laws to ensure there are plenty of prisoners:
- who can be housed in privately run prisons at a guaranteed occupancy rate
- requiring sub par healthcare provide by a private contractor
- paying for overpriced phone calls provided by a private contractor
- for the new kiosks system being installed as we speak which will provide video visitation and emails and the new tablets for games, news, music, movies, and games. Of course, also through a private for-profit company.

And as soon as they figure out how to make more money on this Hep-C epidemic, treatment will happen and the FDOC budget will increase, all at a higher cost to the taxpayer for housing 110,000 prisoners.

Oh well, what the he!! do I know.