SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Why is it that if I get put in jail I don't continue to get paid YET a senator or congressman does!!! Talk about waste, fraud and abuse--this is MAJOR. They also should not get a pension for doing one term, that continues for years and years after they leave office. They also should not be able to vote in raises for themselves---the US people should be able to do that. They act like they rule the world and are more important... more »

I have been to three "new" penitentiaries which were built at different times over approximately 12 years and all three have the same issues. There needs to be true staff involvement prior to AND during the building process. It would be much cheaper to fix the problems PRIOR to the construction instead of fixing after the construction.

When new prisons are built, the awnings should be nothing but solar panels. This would create free energy and create additional inmate job details since the panels would need to be kept clean.

Many of the long term OWCP claims could be eliminated by creating regional/centralized phone/email monitoring centers. Claimants could monitor 100% of the inmate phone calls and emails. This would make the employee productive and useful.

The majority of OWCP claims are from simply responding (running) TO fights/body alarms and not the actual incident itself. Utilizng EZ-GOs or another mode of transportation would significantly reduce the number of claims and injuries driving down the cost.

Terminate the Federal Prison Industries for-profit business and convert it into a vocational program that serves the United States Governments many needs. Currently, FPI (also known as UNICOR) is a mandatory source that the government has to buy from, often at higher prices than the private sector offers! They use inmate labor to make a profit for their shareholders instead of making these inmates work to create a product... more »

If you were to lockdown a faculty once a week you could save millions. No visiting, no hot meal, no programs or recreation. The inmate would be provided three shack lunches in the morning and daily medications .All non-security staff would have the day off. The energy cost would be lower, food cost would be cut in half and staff cost would be lower. You would only have 1/3 off the staff working and the facility would... more »

LABOR-Develop a reasonable labor requirement to cut cost the Govt, would otherwise spend on Fed employees, contractors, or private sector. Since they are receiving better healthcare than most, cable which some still can't afford, and exercise equipment which some can't afford or are to busy working to use, we might as well educate them and give them a skill so they may positively contribute to society. Maybe in the process... more »

If prisoners are going to be allowed to watch television, make them ride energy-generating bikes to power the TVs; if it can be done in a way that is safe, cost-effective, and Constitutional.

At the prison I work at we have 30 microwaves for inmate use. They run almost 24 hours a day, they are replacing them almost every mouth. Each microwave is $200 plus, they are industrial microwave not the regular household models. That’s 5,000 dollars worth of microwave replace almost every mouth. That’s 50,000 dollars a year. You times that by 130 prisons you get 7,800,000 dollars on microwave for inmates. Inmates abuse... more »

At the Federal Correctional Facility I work at we have a helicopter pad. Every night the lights come on. They are on 365 days a year for the last 20 years. In 20 years only 2 helicopters have ever landed at our facility. Take the light off automatic and make the manual. So if we ever have a helicopter land we will turn them on. I can only guess that the other 130 faculty was the same way.

We provide inmate with pencils, soap, body wash, writing paper, envelopes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, shaving gel, and razors. We should only provide these things to inmates that are indigent. Most of the inmate wastes these items. I find all of this stuff in the trash can, un-used or wasted. Most of the inmate can afford to buy these things but don’t because they are free from us. Stop the handouts.

I once read a stat that said 62% of people in prison/jail have not been convicted.

I understand that a large portion of this probably also includes stat and local prisons/jails.

I also understand that there are varying circumstances with due process.

I also am aware there are many ideas for lowering Government costs related to prisons.

BUT this is a serious problem. Why don't we cut down on spending by fixing the... more »

Some stats show over 80% of those released from prison end up back in prison within a year. Why? They can't find a job and don't have the skills they need to find a decent job. What to do? We need a Prisoner to Society Transition program. We need a web-based capability that lists available jobs in industry, insentives for industry to hire ex-cons, agencies that are available and that offer services needed by ex-cons... more »

The “War on Drugs”, has done nothing except increase the violent tendencies and the salary, of drug dealers. Legalize, and force into the not for profit sector, the sale of all narcotics, and psychiatric medications. Place a cap on the wages earned by people who make narcotics and psychiatric drugs, of minimum wage, up to 60 hours a week. Drug farmers and lab techs that want to turn our children into drug addicts... more »