Under this initiative -- which was developed by enterprising state employees -- qualified offenders who are on probation or parole can apply for $125 loans to pay for General Equivalency Degree (GED) test preparation courses at Greenville Tech. By almost any standard, it is a program that will help offenders, victims and the community at large.

Consider these facts:

Today, an offender with a ninth-grade education earns slightly more than $14,000 per year. But with a GED, that same offender can earn more than $17,000 per year. That means he or she will pay more taxes, have an income that will enable our department to collect and distribute more funds to pay back victims, and be better able to support a family.

It is a well-known fact that many offenders who leave prison cannot find a job and end up returning. That can be expensive. The average annual cost of a prison bed is $14,975. Clearly, if we can provide more opportunities for qualified offenders to become productive members of society, we can reduce their economic drain on the people of South Carolina.

That's the real beauty of this program. It turns potential tax burdens into responsible taxpayers. That's a major reason why we are planning to take the Greenville model and apply it statewide.

Don't get me wrong. We talk a lot about being tough on crime -- and we should. While the department believes strongly we have a responsibility to give offenders the chance to succeed under community supervision, we do not think it should come at the expense of public and community safety.

At the same time, we believe there is a tremendous upside to being smart on crime. And part of being smart on crime means repairing harm to communities -- and restoring victims' quality of life -- by increasing the offender's ability to learn and earn.

This quality of life is important. At first glance, some may see this GED program as a giveaway to offenders. That is a misconception. While it does afford some advantages to those on probation and parole, it affords greater advantages to victims.

Since the Legislature gave our department the responsibility in 1999 to collect and distribute restitution from offenders, we have paid out more than $22 million to crime victims. Where does that money come from? The wages and salaries that offenders earn. So the more of them who are working, the more money we can collect and give back to victims; the more money we can give back to victims, the greater their ability to restore their life and lifestyle.

Victims advocates agree with the approach. "No amount of money can make a victim whole, but holding the offender accountable is an essential part of justice for the individual victim as well as the community," Laura Hudson, of the South Carolina Victims Assistance Network, has said. "It is good public policy to require restitution, and it is very good public policy to provide opportunities for education and employment."

But beyond all that, the restitution law sends a tough, clear message: If someone breaks the law in South Carolina, they are going to pay the price -- literally.

The GED plan is a perfect example of this philosophy at work. It grew from the creative energy and unselfish commitment of folks in the trenches at the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and Greenville Technical College. The program provides opportunities for the offenders we supervise to get a diploma, get a job, and get back on their feet. It helps us do more for victims.

That's our job -- all of it. And by being smart as well as tough on crime, we're creating significant value for the victims, communities and taxpayers we serve.

Click here to return to story:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/123003/com_30birnie.shtml