Cottonwood deserves to stay open

To the editor:

As was discussed in the recent article by Marc Powers, "Cottonwood back in the budget: Whether it stays is uncertain," the Missouri Legislature continues work on finalizing appropriations bills, but the fate of Cottonwood Treatment Center is still unknown.

House Bill 787, sponsored by state Rep. Cathy Jolly of Kansas City proposes to increase state spending. Her plan is to put more nonviolent offenders in Missouri prisons for longer periods of time. HB 787 would repeal a law that was estimated to save the state $30 million over the next two-years, enough to run Cottonwood for the next 15 years. It is an insult to our children to propose such drastic cuts to meaningful services while proposing HB 787.

With Cottonwood's rehabilitative help, many children throughout the state have learned to become productive members of society. The closing of this facility to save state money would result in many of these children not getting the help that they need. Instead many would enter the juvenile justice system and, eventually, the adult prison system.

Parents need not worry. HB 787 will simply transfer the tax dollars used for rehabilitating youth at Cottonwood to providing a cell in an already overcrowded state prison. Is sacrificing our children being tough on crime? The way I see it, our communities are the only ones who will suffer.

ERIN McKINNEY

St. Louis