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Show m V C vfV V r - yiyvfyv!-viv'r'y4VVfVcvyii,v,vv,,V?'1- SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16, 1996 Opinion Guest Editorial Jail over-crowdi- ng By Sheriff Joe D. Richards On November 5, 1996, Coconino County will have an initiative placed before the people to establish a countywide jail district to be funded by a three tenths of a cent sales tax. As your Sheriff, my statutory responsibility includes the operation and maintenance of the Coconino County Jail, therefore, I would like to explain why it is necessary to expand our jail system and why a jail district makes sense for Coconino County. The current jail facilities are seriously crowded. Many of the cell ' blocks are double-bunke- d with overflow having sometimes to sleep on the floor. We have been under a Federal Court lawsuit for more than twenty years dealing with issues of access to the law library, medical care, exercise, and a variety of other constitutional issues. There is simply no more room in the County Jail and with the establishment of a jail population cap by the court of 163, we find ourselves having to house prisoners in several other county jails. Currently, we have more than 50 inmates housed in La Paz, Apache, Maricopa and Pinal Counties. The housing costs for this upcomingyear could exceed $7,000,000. In addition, the county has had to pay more than $200,000 in fines set by the Federal Court as a result of an overcrowded jail. The history of the county jail has contributed to our present predicament. The original jail was built in 1925 and is the present two story sandstone structure still visible on East Birch Avenue. As a result of growth in prisoner population, the county expanded the jail again in 1962, raising the capacity to approximately 100 inmates. As the jail population continued to grow, additional construction became necessary in 1978. The resultofthese three construction periods is a staff intensive facility consisting of more than fourteen separate cell blocks and is much like a rat maze in its design. The situation then becomes a question of public safety. It is reasonable to expect that people convicted of a crime will be locked up, not just cited and released. Coconino County is required by law to provide a suitable jail facility and to provide for the safely of the public. If we do not expand the facilities now, the Federal Court will continue to issue mandates and fines that will impact Coconino County. There are also public safety and quality oflife issues. The people of Coconino County deserve and demand safe streets and homes. The formation of this Jail District will make it possible to expand the jail system to meet the criminal justice needs of our county. Even a well designed and staffed jail presents enormous potential for liability. A poorly designed overcrowded and understaffed jail is an invitation for financial disaster to the county. The risk of injury to my detention officers and risk to the public if an inmate escapes is significant. Jails need to be humane and secure facilities. Law abiding citizens want to feel secure in knowing that those who need to be incarcerated are incarcerated. Criminals should not be on the streets because there is no room in the jail. There are many benefits to establishing a Jail District. The money raised through sales tax is directed exclusively to jail operations. The law prohibits redirecting the money to other projects. With the establishment of a Jail District, all municipalities will no longer have to pay jail fees. This will result in a substantial savings to city budgets. With the establishment of a Jail District, the Board of Supervisors acts as the Board of Directors and the Sheriff is the Administrator who will maintain and operate the County Jail. Currently, there are more than 17 law enforcement agencies that book prisoners into the county jail. The plans for a new jail are to no frills, effibuild a 350-becient jail with an expansion capability of up to 600 inmates. The proposed site will be located on the Stone Forest properties near Butler Avenue. Additionally, the Jail District calls for temthe construction of a d in Page porary holding facility that will serve the needs of Northern Coconino County. A model and detailed plans of the facility are available for viewing at the County Administration Center. We are operating at peak capacity. We are transportingpris-oner- s to other county jails to avoid, contempt of the Federal Court order. Currently, there are more than 1000 people on probation and a backlog of 7000 arrest warrants for failure to appear! Because of the jail population cap, the judges can no longer use it as a place of punishment or deterrent! We simply do not have the space to meet the growing demands of this county. I ask that you join me in supporting the formation of a Jail District in Coconino County. d, 24-be- Letters to the Editor What is your opinion? This newspaper welcomes opinions from its readers concerning any subject. Anything of a libelous nature or defamation of character will not be considered for publication. Please limit your letters to 300 words or less. Letters must be signed and include your full name, address and telephone number. Thank you for your interest. Disgusted at lack SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS AAA Deadlines AAA FRIDAY of sense 1 PM See LETTERS, Page 5 Dear Editor To the two boys from Fredonia, in the blue pickup a week ago last Thursday afternoon, to the passenger the one with the white scarf on his head who climbed out the window while the vehicle was going sixty miles an hour on the way to Kanab when you couldnt reach what you were after in the back of the pickup, you crawled back in and held the wheel while the driver climbed out, still going sixty miles per hour, and grabbed something in the back. If you were trying to impress other motorists, you succeeded, but you wouldnt like what they were thinking! Im not going to sign my name to this letter. With your mentality, youd probably burn my house down, and roast marshmallows in the coals. Sure hope you grow up before you fall out on your head. Come to think of it, with your, lack of brains, youd never feel a thing! Disgusted Driver The Southern Utah News (ISSN No. 0049-165is published every N. Main at 26 SUNews serves . Utah 84741 The St., Kanab, Wednesday Kane County, Utah, and the Arizona Strip. Address communications to 26 N. Main St., Kanab, Utah 84741 , or telephone 801 Fax ft 801 rates available upon request Second Class Advertising postage paid at Kanab, Utah 84741. Newsstand price 50c per copy. Yearly subscription rates to Kane County addresses and Fredonia and Moccasin, Arizona, $22; others $30 (out of U.S. $50). The SUNews reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement or submitted items. 9) 44-2900, 44-2926. Dennis and Dixie Brunner Publishers and Editor Ruth Koontz Production Staff Dillon Cunningham Advertising Postmaster. Send change of address cards to - 26 N. Main St., Kanab, UT 84741 Carol Sullivan Kanab News Myrna Cox Glendale News Barb Kimball Fredonia News Twila Cox Orderville News Barbara Pyles Feature Writer |