News Release

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October 7, 2005

Community Meetings to Address Prison Concerns

The Idaho State Department of Correction, Boise State University and state legislators will present a community meeting to address prison and community corrections concerns. The meeting will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Boise State Business Building, Room 105. The forum is designed to educate and foster dialogue about the challenges facing Idaho communities as the offender population grows. The event is free and open to the public.

The number of probationers and parolees managed by the Department of Correction is growing at the rate of about 850 people a year. Currently, the department manages more than 11,000 offenders in Idaho communities. The prison population is also growing by approximately 30 inmates a month. Currently, the state has 6,608 inmates, although the prison system only has the capacity to house 6,100 inmates.

The following topics will be discussed at the meeting:
Prison population and growth — Can we reduce prison growth?
More offenders in communities — How can communities enhance safety as the state experiences growing numbers of probationers and parolees?
Programs and education— What treatment works and is more needed?
Sex offender supervision — How does Idaho track sex offenders and how can public safety be enhanced?

A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. Questions may be asked in either English or Spanish. For more information, call 426-3776.

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Contact: Michael Blankenship, Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, (208) 426-3776, mblanken@boisesetate.edu 
Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Relations, (208) 426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu
 

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Last reviewed on Thursday, December 22, 2005