Republican nominee for lieutenant governor Corrine Wood sought to bolster her tough on crime image Saturday, calling for a statewide commitment to keep juvenile criminals in boot camps and adult criminals in prison for the duration of their sentence so they could not threaten society.

After touring the Murphysboro Youth Center Boot Camp, Wood spoke to reporters about the importance of boot camps and prisons in stemming recidivism rates. She also provided a three-prong prevention proposal, highlighting the need for emotional counseling of juveniles, a commitment to fighting drugs and investment in education.

This blend of pro-prison and pro-prevention rhetoric has divided Democrats and Republicans in the early stages of the general election. Democrats, headed by gubernatorial nominee Glenn Poshard, are criticizing their opponents for the paradoxical language embedded in statements like those Wood uttered Saturday.

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Poshard’s press secretary Dave Stricklin has argued Republican gubernatorial nominee George Ryan would rather build more prisons and focus on the jailing of criminals rather than commit sufficient dollars to schools. He contends there is an inherent contradiction in saying Illinois must expand its prison system to accommodate the overflow of criminals while emphasizing the virtues of education.

Wood, a state representative from Lake Forest, dismissed this criticism, plugging Ryan’s call for at least 51 percent of new revenue growth to go toward education and workforce training.

Ryan’s education plan forgoes the income tax increase Poshard backed during the primary. Wood commented on the proposed tax swap Saturday, saying any tax increase at this point would be bad policy.

Raising taxes when there’s a surplus is unconscionable, she said.

Wood acknowledged the need for property tax relief in Southern Illinois, but said more spending at the state level is the answer. When asked if a Ryan administration could guarantee sufficient funds for southern schools, Wood said no.

I can’t promise this money goes to Southern Illinois schools, she said. But, I can promise that this money will be earmarked for education.