Back on the Chain Gang

This is how ludicrous Florida pols are getting with the budget. They are touting chain gangs and a way to save the state money.

The state could save millions of dollars by housing low-security inmates in tents, slapping them in leg irons and putting them to work maintaining roads, Florida's prisons chief said Friday.

Corrections Secretary James McDonough also offered to take a 10 percent pay cut - more than $11,000 - as part of his recommendations for helping the state trim its budget.

If McDonough is willing to take a pay cut - I am more than happy to give him props for that. Florida already uses prisoners on work release programs on state and county projects. Not all these immates are wearing shackles. They are supervised by correction officers. So it's hard to see huge savings from this.

These chain gangs workers don't have the skills to do many projects. (I have seen inmates do concrete work.) They aren't going to replace commercial construction crews. The cost benefit is limited. Image wise, if makes Florida look like a scene from Cool Hand Luke.