Published: February 12, 2007 10:12 am            

Time, price are right for jail study

One of the most common criticisms of government bodies is that they aren’t run like a private business or a single-family household. But those criticisms tend to be levied when it comes to spending money. When the issues are open meetings or accountability, we rightfully demand much more from elected officials than private businessmen.

That introduction brings us to the topic at hand, the massive overcrowding at the Clinton County Jail that has the nasty effect of costing the county and its taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to house inmates elsewhere. And it’s not just the housing that costs, it’s the transportation to and from Clinton County, which affects employee salaries, vehicle usage and fuel cost and so on.

But is building a new jail so expensive or impractical that the out of county housing remains a more fiscally sound option? None of us can say for sure, which is why the county sheriff and other officials are looking at trying to fund a feasibility study that could give better insight into the future of our incarceration needs.

In the budget for the next fiscal year, Sheriff Rick Lincoln included $15,000 for a jail needs assessment. According to the budget proposal, It would allow the county to hire a consultant to look at many factors and determine at what point it would be more cost effective to add on to the existing jail, open a jail annex or build a new jail.

Furthermore, Lincoln also is working on getting consultants with the National Institute of Corrections to perform a jail and justice system assessment. If the county qualifies, the assessment would be provided at no cost. Workers would review the physical condition of the jail, and the justice system as a whole, to determine if the process could be modified to reduce overcrowding.

That this entire process will be carried out in the public eye makes it very little like what a private business would encounter. Forget for a moment that no private business can compare to running a jail, people would scream from the hilltops if the county just decided to build a new jail without at least studying the issue. Yet some will scream about spending $15,000 on a study that may not prove conclusive.

Still, the county is doing the right thing. Lincoln is asking the county to provide $438,000 for room and board payments in the next fiscal year to house a projected 20 inmates per day at a rate of $60 per day. That’s $278,000 more than was budgeted for the same need in the current fiscal year, and there’s just $12,000 left to spend on that need with almost a half a year remaining. Imagine how far $278,000 or $438,000 could go toward new jail facilities.

The $15,000 for the study is a sound investment, especially if the NIC assessment also could be completed at no cost. This is a very serious issue that needs to be met head on. With the courthouse recently renovated and the administration building in fairly good shape, the jail situation remains the county’s prime facility concern. Solving that problem should cut down on annual operating costs, increase safety for inmates and staff and better position the county to deal with changes in the criminal justice system.

The first step is the study, and it’s a step we hope is taken as soon as possible.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.