The Barre Times Argus — a well-established Vermont newspaper — has published an opinion piece drafted by Safer Society Executive Director Mary Falcon and board member Michael Shank. In the piece, Falcon and Shank argue that the solution to Vermont’s over-crowded prisons isn’t funding a mega-prison, but working to reduce the prison population.

Instead of taking $150 million from Vermont taxpayers to build a mega-prison that we don’t need, let’s instead fund programs that help Vermonters currently behind bars prepare for the challenges of returning to society and reconnect with their communities and their families. That’s a Vermont taxpaying dollar much better spent with much greater returns to the Vermont economy.

Read the entire op-ed here.