Solutions for jail crisis exist
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Editor,
Three years into a four-year term and with an upcoming election, the Lake County Sheriff has a renewed sense of urgency over his “dysfunctional” jail. Recently, representatives from the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) provided the results of a two-day jail audit in a “town hall” meeting. The NIC findings were similar to those provided seven years ago, only now the problems are eerily much worse. Our current facility is unsafe, inadequate and incapable of providing a meaningful deterrence to criminal behavior. What practical steps can be taken to reverse this trend and how can we afford to provide our criminal justice system the necessary tools to keep us safe? The county jail and courts are much more than an operational function of the Sheriff’s Department; they are an integral component to Lake County’s criminal justice system. Foundational to any solution is competent leadership, trust and collaborative participation in a mutually agreed and accurate definition of the problem. Once defined, specific tasks are then implemented and become a strategic plan for the completion of the project. According to NIC, construction of new jail would take three-four years.
During the town hall meeting, a considerable amount of facilitated discussion centered on the problem of funding. While problematic, options are available including a mill levy for corrections, a tax on tourism and/or government grants for tribal members. Tax increases are extremely unpopular but their affects could be mitigated by a federal income tax reduction.
Currently, Lake County has a number of available options and opportunities to solve its jail crisis, but lawsuits resulting from continued neglect will limit the proportionate effect of building a new facility on all its residents. Our motive for building a new facility should not be based on lawsuits; rather our purpose should be an appreciation for our law enforcement professionals, respect for the rule of law and the public safety legacy we are leaving. Seven years from now, let’s not have another town hall meeting where we’re told we need a new jail.
David L. Coffman
Polson
