It’s essential that the state follow through on this effort by ensuring that community-based correctional programs are properly funded. Prisons, of course, are by far the most expensive stop on the corrections program.

Which is why community-based programs, done right and funded adequately, can be considerably more cost-effective than prison and help reduce recidivism rates. But if we’re just releasing offenders back into the community with limited supervision and without access to the mental-health and addiction programs they need, we won’t be doing them (or our communities) any favors.

The $10 million saved by not opening another women’s prison helped to plug the state’s billion-dollar budget shortfall. But imagine if we had been able to spend all of that money on community-based programs