From: "Drumm, Daniel L." <DRUMM@uwec.edu> Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:10:32 -0600 Subject: Incarceration Nation Message-ID: <EEA4CA65D05DC54E874A89D9F51868193D0C0CC6D0@CHERRYCOKE.uwec.edu>
Something about this recent jail discussion bothers me.
I understand and completely agree that placing criminal justice facilities
along the river does not fit into our comprehensive plan, or any sane notio
n of zoning for our city's future. It seems an obvious blunder to highlight
our downtown with a detention facility, no mater what the façade.
Is this NIMBY or criminal justice reform?
I have to wonder how many opposed to the riverfront site were actively work
ing on or even concerned about our detained population before this issue. I
repeatedly hear "it's clear that we need a new facility." It's clear to me
that if we need the new facilities, it is due to our lack of action on cri
minal justice issues in the past. I understand the 11th hour concerns and t
he need for immediate action. I do not want to hinder that effort in any wa
y, but I have to question if we really do need this jail anywhere. In my op
inion, the only people we need locked up are those who present a danger to
themselves or others. If we do not have the space for pot smokers, then we
shouldn't be holding them. The U.S. nonviolent prisoner population is large
r than the combined populations of Wyoming and Alaska. Anecdotal reports he
ard by county board members are that 80% of our jail inmates are there for
alcohol/other drug/mental health issues. 80%!
Is a jail really what we need?
If we care less about the people in our jail than where we put it, I say pu
t it in the most conspicuous place possible - along the river front, in pho
enix park, in the mall, wherever it will be seen - hiding the problem is ju
st another façade.
Alternatives:
There are any number of possible early intervention programs, sentencing al
ternatives, electronic monitoring devices, counseling and educational progr
ams, and treatment programs available to us. Unfortunately there is little
money for these alternatives. This is reminiscent of the "need" to build di
rty coal fired power plants because, even though we should invest in clean
alternatives, "we need electricity now". When the dirty coal plant or the
jail is built, the alternatives are forgotten, or marginalized for lack of
funds. For example, last year the Sherriff was allocated $50,000 to put to
ward electronic monitoring - a program he apparently doesn't like. Nothing
was done for eight months, and then he requested to roll the money over int
o the jail meals budget! Only when that request was denied did the electro
nic monitoring program increase. I understand Eau Claire County now only av
erages 14 people with electronic monitoring devices. We currently have an e
xtremely under funded drug court which has the capacity of little more than
a dozen people a year.
Uninformed Consent:
The County Board approved the jail expansion without information they reque
sted on the jail population. The study finally completed shows jail popula
tion demographics, recidivism, etc. The study by some branch of the Nation
al Institute of Corrections was recently completed and a presentation was g
iven to those who were notified and able to fit it into their calendar give
n the three days notice. I understand there was only a small number of 'the
public' present. Apparently we are not interested. (or once again, did not
get notice) I'll try to have this study up on a website soon, and I'll em
ail the link. It might be on the county website sometime next week also.
Stats, Further Reading
The US has one-quarter of all prisoners on the planet (now over 2,300,000).
Only Communist China, with its immense population, comes close with about
1.5million. (world prison population list<http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds
/pdfs2/r188.pdf>)
One in 100 Americans in Prison: Study<http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022
808R.shtml>
Wisconsin leads the nation in the percentage of its black inhabitants under
lock and key.<http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2005/Black-In-America14jul05
.htm>
WI's Shame: Highest Youth Minority Incarceration Rate in US<http://crawford
stake.blogspot.com/2007/01/wis-shame-highest-youth-minority.html>
Dan Drumm