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Updated Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:45 AM
There are answers to Grayson County jail question
There is agreement that our jail is inadequate, but our community is deeply divided on whether the present jail should/can be renovated/expanded or a larger jail constructed. To get beyond this disagreement we need good, credible information that only impartial experts can provide.
The first information we need is how large a jail will be needed. A key question is how much a comprehensive jail diversion program can reduce the projected jail population. The Director of the Texas Jail Commission recommends a study of who is in jail, who is responsible to reduce their time in jail, and how we could achieve this reduction by implementing the Commission's best jail diversion practices. A model for doing this is he process the State mandated for its crisis services jail diversion program for the mentally ill implemented locally by our Community Mental Health Center (MHMRST).
All the stakeholders, constables, police departments, commissioners, sheriff, district attorney, judges, probation, MHMRST,etc., should be included in studying, prioritizing and planning the program. Using this model, representatives from these stakeholders could more accurately project appropriate jail requirements and work cooperatively to implement an appropriate jail diversion program to reduce the beds needed.
The second information we need is whether the present jail can be appropriately renovated/expanded. To resolve this we need an independent expert study. The City of Sherman, SEDCO, and the Commissioners Court agreed to jointly fund this study, but the commissioners changed their minds. Surely the modest cost of a study would be money well spent because it would credibly give us expert impartial advice on the feasibility of any project.
The citizens of Grayson County deserve and should demand that our leaders collaborate in providing the leadership we need to secure the information and planning needed to move forward toward planning a jail diversion program and appropriately remedying the inadequacies of our jail. I hope that Judge Bynum and Sheriff Gary will give initial leadership and that all the stakeholders will collaborate. Our community deserves, and should demand, nothing less.
Dr. Thomas W. Nuckols
Sherman
Texoma comments ...
6 comment found!
no profit for jail : 11/12/2009
There is one thing that stands out about crime in our country,we are innocent until proven other wise.And we can't let a company make money off people and crimes they do or do not comment.Their might not be someone today that would imprison a innocent man but someday their will be.And they will do it as a kickback.Just look up north were a judge imprisoned youths for kickbacks from a youth farm.
bwmartin
jail issue : 11/9/2009
I'm not aware of two jails in Sherman, revamping is not the problem its needing more beds. I fail to see what we gain by spending 2 1/2 million dollars to buy houses and business's around the current jail to expand when we can buy 90 acres for $900.000 and take care of the problem for a number of years. Making the miminum security beds maxium security doesn't add beds. Patching the jail doesn't fix the problem long term. No new taxes.
judy
County Jail : 11/8/2009
I think everyone in the county knows that the current jail needs updating. For every so called study we as taxpayers have to pay the bill. What a waste of time and money. There are 2 jails in downtown Sherman. Has anyone thought about revamping both of them? Why not make one a mininum security and the other the maxium security jail. The people of Grayson County are letting our elected officials throw away money and then tell us that we have to let the private run jail be built for us. The proposed location of the private owned jail has always been a question in my mind. Why was that location the best? Who owns that land? And who really is going to benifit from it? There are many questions that are being unanswered. And in the end the taxpayers will be the loosers.
Joe
jail issue : 11/6/2009
Most of the people in our jail are there for felonies, not misdemeanors, they may have misdmeanor charges also, but are there on felonies. A 3rd DWI is a felony, bond is allowed, how many other trials were held during that 9 month time? The courts have civil cases that also have to be scheduled, the parties have a right to their day in court the same as the ones charged with a crime and in jail. The commissioners can not force the DA, Judges or the Sheriff to release are try anyone. Most of the recommendations made by Pulitzer are being done, we are much better of than we were in controlling the jail population. We need more maxium security beds. Pulitzer also said we would need between a 800 to 900 bed jail by 2019, or current jail has beds for 382 imates, if the estimate is true in 10 years we will need at least 418 more beds. 400 beds would translate into around 80,000 square feet, at $250.00 a square foot that is around 20 million dollars and only covers 10 years. We need a long term fix, not to be discussing this again in 10 years. Say NO to higher taxes!!!
james
Jail Diversion : 11/5/2009
Thank you, Mr. Coburn, for your important statistics and noting that jail diversion techniques are not new. Indeed, I suggested that our leaders begin with a study of the TCJS's best practices for jail diversion. There is momentum in Texas, however, toward jail diversion programs. The state mandated a mental health crisis service JD Program. Grayson C. has a new TEAM Court for juveniles, etc. We need, as you say, to focus on expediting handling of those in the jail. My purpose in the Letter was to raise citizen awareness and to encourage our leaders to lead. What do you suggest to increase jail diversion momentum?
Tom Nuckols
County Jail : 11/4/2009
According to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards Population Reports, typically just more than half of the jail population has not been tried or convicted of the charges that have them in jail. Also, on average half of those are being held on misdemeanor charges. Dr. Nuckols comments on jail diversion techniques are not new. The same recommendations were provided in the Pulitzer Bogard study years ago. The responsible officials simply have no interest in moving people thru the Criminal Justice system in an expeditious manner. The pay is the same to them. Easier to build a new, larger jail than to deal with these internal systems problems. When a third time DWI offender is held in jail 9 months before a one day trial is held (8 year prison sentence)it is abundantly clear that the commissioners, the Sheriff, the DA, the Judges have no interest in moving cases thru the system. After all, it's other peoples money being wasted.
Paul Coburn
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