Quick Hits

Just a couple of notes today. This link will get you to an update on the CA's gov's take on the current state of the state's prison situation, including the role the courts will likely end up playing to make the state grow up and a nice quote from a warden noting how the crowding forces use of prison space that could be used for, oh, training and treatment and stuff to improve the odds of the inmate not coming back. But it's not there so he does. . . . And this and this will take you two somewhat opposing articles from Denver. The first tells you how much money CCA is saving CO by offering private prisons there. The second tells you how much money CCA is costing CO through its cheap management. Point, counterpoint kind of thing. Denver's lucky to have two competing papers, both of which have been doing a nice job on the prison crisis there. . . . And finally, this gives you the latest good news (not) on the teen drinking front. The US Surgeon General says the 11 m. underage drinkers (including over 7 m. binge drinkers) are a wake-up call for this major health problem. Couple of quotes:

"Alcohol remains the most heavily abused substance by America's youth," Moritsugu said. He said the report calls for a "change in the culture and attitudes toward drinking in America. We can no longer ignore what alcohol is doing to our children."

and

Although there has been a significant decline in tobacco and illicit drug use among teens, underage drinking has remained at consistently high levels, he said. In part, that high use stems from tolerance by adults.
"Too many Americans consider underage drinking a rite of passage to adulthood," said Moritsugu. "Research shows that young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life."

Let’s see—“drug of choice,” “five times more likely,” “other drug use in significant decline,” “harm brain development”—so by all means let’s fill our prisons with "marijuana-the starter drug" folks.

What would Mr. Spock say?