2001 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Crime
Bob Wise:
$1.5M to raise pay for police and prison guards
Although we value their work, those who guard us against crime are paid far less in West Virginia than in our surrounding states. This is particularly true in the correctional system.
After completing the required training, the starting salary for a correctional officer is $18,000. Severely understaffed and overworked, our correctional officers are spending long days in close quarters with dangerous and unpredictable criminals.
I ask you to pass legislation that will provide a $2,000 annual raise for correctional officers. Our State Police, too, are not paid adequately in accordance with the burden they carry.
And, we are unable, in this tight budget year, to give them all they deserve. But I have set aside $1.5 million in the budget to offer an adjustment in the trooper longevity schedule that will reward our troopers for remaining on the job.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to West Virginia Legislature
Feb 14, 2001
Frank Keating:
Target violent and career criminals
We have targeted violent and career criminals, those who are walking crime waves, those who prey upon our brothers and our sisters, our neighbors and our friends, and we’ve said that if you are violent and if you are chronic, we will use,
for the first time, private prisons and we will use public prisons for the purpose of keeping you out of circulation. At no great surprise, over the course of the last three years, crime rate has collapsed across the board.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to Oklahoma legislature
Feb 5, 2001
Tommy Thompson:
Building more prisons reduces the crime rate
We restored public confidence in the criminal justice system with truth in sentencing, strengthened our juvenile code by replacing a soft touch with tough love, and kept sexual predators off our streets until they’re deemed not to be a threat.
While no one likes to build prisons, there is an unmistakable correlation between rising prison populations and the lowest crime rates in 30 years. When the bad guys are behind bars, they’re not committing crimes.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address
Jan 31, 2001
Tommy Thompson:
Give prisoners a work ethic, and substance-abuse programs
Our goal remains to make a criminal’s first visit to prison his last. Our cutting-edge work programs give prisoners a skill and work ethic so they can leave prison with the ability to get a job and stay out of trouble.
And drug and alcohol treatment programs help keep them sober. As we look to the future, every prison must have a work program that trains every prisoner. Otherwise, these criminals will just keep coming back.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address
Jan 31, 2001
Bob Holden:
Lower drunk driving limit to .08
Right now, in Missouri, the blood alcohol content for being arrested as a drunk driver is .10, even though all the evidence shows that a driver is substantially impaired at the .08 level.An analysis of the first five states that lowered the blood alcohol
limit to .08 revealed significant decreases in fatal crashes related to alcohol in four out of the five. The tremendous toll in human life and suffering our higher blood alcohol content law is causing should be more than sufficient reason to lower the
legal limit. And federal authorities are also sending us a signal of how important they feel this issue is. We are losing federal incentive money for our highways by not adopting .08. We would be receiving an additional $3 million every year now. If we
don’t pass a .08 law by October 1, 2003, we will be paying a sanction in the neighborhood of $8 million-a penalty that increases to $32 million in 2007 if we still haven’t passed the bill. Let’s make it happen this year.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
Judy Martz:
After 100 years, we have enough prison cells, for now
For the first time in a century Montana has enough cells for those who are sentenced to Montana State Prison. For the first time in a long time judges know that if they send a person to MSP their sentence will be served in the place they belong.
The Department of Corrections could be called the water heater of the State budget. It is something no one wants to spend money on. It’s not something you show off to your friends. And yet, it’s just plain necessary. Public SAFETY is our most
important responsibility. Without it, everything else we try to do in society is jeopardized. In just eight years we’re nearly caught up in prison space after a hundred years of underfunding. Not bad. We have enough cells. For now.
We have more probation and parole officers for more effective supervision. For now. Our Pine Hills juvenile facility will be receiving accreditation/certification for its new sex offender facility. We’re well equipped. For now.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Montana Legislature
Jan 25, 2001
Mike Johanns:
Juvenile justice package: more funding; more coordination
I propose a comprehensive juvenile justice reform package that addresses priority needs. - Enact a “gatekeeper” structure to coordinate juveniles’ entry into the State system.
- Fund an initiative that will expand the array of services available
within the State juvenile system. This measure will alleviate overcrowding by doubling the number of substance abuse treatment beds for juveniles and allow the development of mental health programming and aftercare services.
- Create a new aid formula
to provide funds directly to counties for development of community-based programs for juvenile delinquents.
- Funding to replace expired federal grant dollars so that current substance abuse treatment programs at both Kearney and Geneva can be
sustained.
- Transfer the existing Department of Correctional Services facility to the Office of Juvenile Services for use as both a Level 5 secure youth treatment facility and as a site for development of a sex offender treatment program.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Nebraska Legislature
Jan 11, 2001
William Owens:
DNA tests for all felons; “Two strikes” for child molesters
Since taking office, I have signed a number of public safety bills including a “two strikes and you’re out” rule for child molesters, DNA testing of all felons, and a new law that immediately revokes the parole of a parolee caught carrying a gun.
I believe we should do more. DNA testing today allows us to solve murder, rape and other violent crimes decades after the crime is committed. It is time to remove the statute of limitations on such crimes. We should do all we can to catch, prosecute and
lock-up rapists and other violent criminals, whether they committed the crime ten days ago or ten years ago.
Colorado’s judicial system is approaching a crisis due to a serious shortage of trial court judges. That’s why I support legislation to
create 24 new District Court judgeships. Since becoming Governor I have made 33 judicial appointments. These are tough judges who care as much about the victims’ rights as those of the criminals.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Colorado legislature
Jan 11, 2001
Dirk Kempthorne:
No new prisons; warehousing people is not the solution
Based on the fact that our prison population is growing at its current rate, I have received a recommendation that we should begin a construction program of a new prison every two years for the foreseeable future.
But I concluded that if simply warehousing people is our solution, then we as a society have failed. Therefore, I do not recommend the construction of a new men’s prison in this budget. I do, however, recommend that additional beds be constructed.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Idaho legislature
Jan 8, 2001
Dirk Kempthorne:
Drug treatment & education opportunities for inmates
For those inmates who need long-term substance abuse treatment, we can offer it to only 30% of the prison population. I propose that we increase that treatment to 80%. We’re going to deal with the problem of substance abuse in the prison population, and
stop the revolving door of returning inmates. In addition to treatment, I am adding a significant component toward education programs in our prison facilities. If people are going to spend time in our prison system, we’re going to provide the
educational tools to help them help themselves and become more productive members of society before they are released.
We have a captive audience. Let’s remember, treatment need not be voluntary to be successful. If they have a substance abuse
problem, we’re going to help them deal with that problem. If they understand the value of improving their life through education, we’re going to help them. If you successfully treat a substance abuser, you can reduce your recidivism rate by 30 percent.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Idaho legislature
Jan 8, 2001
Jane Dee Hull:
$1.1M to collect DNA samples from all prisoners
We are applying new technology to protect our citizens. Last year, we enacted a bill to obtain DNA samples from persons convicted of murder, burglary and crimes causing serious injury. DNA is our cutting edge tool for solving crimes.
That is why I am recommending $1.1 million to collect and analyze blood samples from virtually all state prisoners.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 8, 2001
Ronnie Musgrove:
Teach prisoners skills by building senior housing
Mississippi’s prison population is growing rapidly. Building our way out of this crisis is not an option even in the most prosperous times. We can’t just change prisons; we have to change lives. We have a unique opportunity to address two
seemingly unrelated needs. We believe we have found a way to offer older Mississippians smaller, affordable homes of their own while driving down the number of offenders returning to our prisons by helping them change careers.
Inmates can learn advanced carpentry, wiring, and roofing skills inside the penitentiary fences by building low-cost, energy-efficient, quality homes designed with elderly Mississippians in mind for purchase and placement on their property
anywhere in Mississippi. Building homes for our parents and grandparents builds real opportunity for offenders and expands the pool of skilled workers for the future.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 4, 2001
Page last updated: Mar 14, 2021
Beshear(D)
vs.