Protecting ourselves is costing us money

Sometimes when a sexual predator has served their prison sentence, but has been deemed too dangerous to enter back into the real world, they live out their life behind bars in what is called a civil commitment program. Although we may all feel a little safer and believe that is where they should be held, but these programs cost money-a lot of money. Minnesota alone spends $65 million a year to house and treat these offenders and they have a "smaller" facility, housing about 400 inmates. These sexual predators may not have freedom, but they have a roof over their head and three square meals a day which is more than some people who have done nothing wrong and are just trying to survive in this unstable economy. It just doesn't seem fair and yet lawmakers are at a loss as to what to do. It's unfortunate that the state has to incur the cost to make sure these people are "taken care of properly". Let's hope they are getting fed the bare minimum of cheap, bland food and that they all participate in cleaning and maintaining the facilities. This wouldn't be cruel and unusual punishment, and even if it was, the reason they are living out their life in these places is because of cruel acts that they have been convicted of . So what is the solution? How do we keep these predators locked away without putting ourselves into a bigger deficit? What steps can we take to ensure our safety without draining state funds?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37819608/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/from/ET