Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.

The city prosecutor says it’s better to build low-security prison camps where inmates can grow food and earn money than costly high-security prisons to accommodate the rising inmate population.

Charles Marsland told the Hawaii Correctional Association yesterday that to house all prisoners in high-security facilities is "unnecessary and insanely expensive."

"But what has to be understood is that the alternative to large-scale, high-security facilities is not to return (the prisoners) to the community," he said.

Marsland had declined previous invitations to speak to the association because he had said prison problems were not his concern.

But he had a change of heart and accepted the group’s invitation to speak at its annual meeting at the Ala Moana Americana Hotel yesterday.

Marsland said low-security camps where the inmates can be productive and the state can benefit are the "sensible alternative."

"This type of facility provides all the punishment required, because it is loss of one’s freedom that is the punishment and the thickness of the walls is irrelevant," he said.

Trust inmates can clear the land, plant crops and live in tents while they build permanent housing and they also should play a key role in planning the facility, he said.

"Believe me, prison space designed by inmates will be functional and that’s all that is important," he said.

Inmate-designed prisons have fewer internal problems and vandalism, plus they are far less expensive.

The prosecutor wants inmates to repair roads and supply government institutions with the food they grow. The modest wages earned could be used to pay restitution to victims, he said.

Marsland is still opposed to parole and furlough programs, but suggested that as long as they exist, prisoners should help decide who gets out. …

Marsland said Gov. George Ariyoshi has failed to take the responsibility to see that there is adequate prison space.

Also, he said key legislators "are more concerned with prisoners than they are with public safety."