The Failure To Incarcerate Convicted Criminals Costs Money!
Unfortunately, it will be our innocent citizens who will have to pay a high price for the decisions of our elected leaders.
 
Our elected government leaders want to save money by releasing prison inmates early.  Other states have tried the same thing with tragic results.  Illinois' experience shows the folly of trying to save money by releasing prisoners early.
 
In 1980, Illinois released 21,000 prisoners three months before the completion of their sentences in an effort to reduce the cost of detention by $60 million. But, while the state did save $60 million, those released prisoners committed:

 

 

All in the three months following their release, when they otherwise should still have been in prison. By the way, the direct and indirect loss to the Illinois victims of those crimes was over $300 million.
 
Those who want to release Kentucky prisoners early in 2008 are falling into the same tragic trap as Illinois did in 1980.  They believe that they will save millions of dollars from the state budget, and they probably will, but, at what cost to our citizens?
 
The legislators and policy-makers appear to be ignoring the costs that will be suffered by our citizens because of our failure to incarcerate convicted criminals. A real cost-benefit analysis of their early release plan must include an examination of the cost of crimes committed by those released and the cost of crimes which could be prevented by their continued incarceration.
 
Cost of Crime to Victims
Mark Cohen, an Analyst for the Federal Sentencing Commission, tried to compute the costs of pain, suffering, and fear that victims suffer as a result of crime, based in part upon how juries have apportioned damages between direct economic losses and pain and suffering.
 
Cohen estimated the average per-crime cost to victims in 1984 (using 1985 dollars) as follows:

 

Rape	$51,058
Robbery	$12,594
Assault	$12,028
Personal Theft	$181
Auto Theft	$3,127
Burglary	$939

 
The estimated total cost of these crimes in 1984 was $92.6 billion (in 1985 dollars).  By 1990 dollar value, that "cost of crime" to victims would have been over $140 billion.
 
Cost of Crime in Lexington - 2007 (using Cohen's 1984 cost estimate):

 

Rapes	111	x	$51,058	=	$5,667,438
Robberies	550	x	$12,594	=	$6,926,700
Assaults (F)	1,113	x	$12,028	=	$13,387,164
Larceny from Auto	2,072	x	$181	=	$375,032
Auto Theft	612	x	$3,127	=	$1,913,724
Burglary	2,114	x	$939	=	$1,985,046
TOTAL					$30,255,104

Emily Burns

By Gail A. Whitt, Personal Friend and Retired Director of Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office's Crime Victim Services

 

Sadly, one of our volunteer family members for victims of violent crime recently lost her battle with cancer.  Emily Burns will be sorely missed not only by her family and friends, but by the countless families she served as a companion to who had gone through a similar crisis that she endured after losing her son, Bran Burns, to violence.

 

Emily Burns with Ray Larson at a Victims' Luncheon.

Emily knew firsthand the pain of losing a child to violent crime.  In July, 1991, her 21-year-old son, Bran, was killed by a 17-year-old who was later tried as a youthful offender in the adult criminal justice system.  Despite her disappointment in a flawed system designed to protect juveniles, Emily retained a presence of mind and was determined to assist others through the "rough days" ahead.  The criminal justice system can be a tremendous source of pain for families and Emily quickly became a friend who helped other families by watching, listening, and reacting to the painful days in the court system.  She spent several years attending court with families, training sessions with crime victim advocates, and awareness events with all who served in a profession to institute rights for victims of violent crime.

 

I will miss her as a friend and advocate, and have always admired her tenacious personality, determination and ability to face fear through her fearless efforts.

What did this killer do to convince a jury to sentence him to death?