Why, Oh Why, Can’t All Be Law-Abiding?

Plans are forging ahead to build a $37-million correctional center to replace the vastly overcrowded (built for 188 with 262 incarcerated last week) facility on Crest Haven Road. Add about $2.5 million to the cost for contingencies (you can never know what’s underground).
As taxpayers, many have mixed emotions about spending that much on a new place for law breakers. Believe it, the Board of Chosen Freeholders doesn’t want to spend that money either, trouble is, there are state and federal agencies breathing down their collective necks since 2005. They have staved the inevitable long enough. A $29-million refurbishment of the present facility, an idea that seemed good at the time, was deemed a failure, since it would not have addressed all the issues, and would still have been a funky old jail waiting to break apart at the seams.
Jails are like sewers, we hate to lay out the cash for them, still we must. If there were alternatives to both, someone would have figured them out by now.
Some commenters vented their spleen under my original report on our website. They wrote:
• What percentage of the inmates are non-violent drug offenders?
• How about fixing the bridges in the county and buying some tents for the jail.
• This country has built so many prisons there must be consultants that have the design down pat and won’t screw up. (I dispute that statement. The old red-brick jail behind the courthouse in the center of the present parking lot, was the only jail prior to the present facility.)
There are far greater needs than a jail to spend $37 million upon, namely affordable housing, perhaps a battered women’s shelter, maybe a place for the homeless. The list could fill this page; all of those could be deemed “right” and would provide far better return than a jail. Keep in mind, it’s an imperfect world.
If the county does nothing, and the state and federal governments assumed control, ordered or worse, built a new facility, then sent us the bill, would we taxpayers be any happier or better served?
Sheriff Gary Schaffer had the daunting task to brief the board on the new plan, assisted by an architect and Faculties and Services Director Ann Marie McMahon. Until one walks in the other chap’s shoes a few miles, they can’t understand why he complains. Schaffer said the new center would not hike taxes, because it’s all financed within bond issues. He went so far as to tell the board, “Trust me on this one.”
McMahon’s maintenance crew has the unenviable task of having to fix something, almost daily, at the jail. She said bathroom walls are crumbling, lighting is inadequate, air circulating equipment (calculated for 188 is overtaxed). Cells, meant to hold one, hold two or three.
So, who has the answer? Some say decriminalize drugs. That would reduce the inmate population drastically. As a society, are we prepared for that action? On one hand sentiment is, “don’t jail non-violent criminals.” On the other hand, hard-liners demand, “They did the crime, now make them do hard time.”
It sounds good to say “Lock ‘em up and throw away the key.” Figure the cost to keep an inmate behind those bars, and it makes me wonder.
Freeholder Kristine Gabor, who has overseen the county’s seminars on drug addiction, knows rehabilitation (even if it takes place behind bars) is a first-step to showing inmates the door once and for all. That’s one solution, more rehabilitation. How many rehab centers could be built for $37 million?
A place for “adjudicated juveniles?” Yes, that came to light when the discussion focused on mandatory (you asked for it) sentences for juvenile drunk drivers and those with revoked licenses. See just how far we’ve come as a lenient society? Even some good kids go bad, but we demand they learn their lesson one way or another. It will only get worse in time.
The center is being built to hold 356 inmates. That proves the point. If society were getting better, we’d be building a jail for 100 or fewer.
I’d enjoy hearing some proposed alternatives to building that $37-million place for our errant brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, neighbors and teens. These prisoners are, after all, our people. They live near us. Maybe they painted your house or mowed your lawn, caught your fish or washed your car. They aren’t from another planet.
My dear wife’s solution: Since the present jail can hold 188, when that limit is reached, that’s it, no more go to jail there. Release some to make way for a crop of new miscreants. What’s your idea?
Schaffer noted all the department’s operations will, finally, be under one roof. That includes the detail that oversees sheriff’s sales.
There is a courtroom planned, to cut down on the cost of transporting prisoners to Superior Court in vehicles. Who ever thought of the danger involved in such transportation? If there were an accident, and a door popped open, out goes Louise or Charlie Prisoner. That won’t happen in the new place.
There is also a medical facility included to reduce hospital trips. Why is that important? Each hospitalized inmate requires two (count ‘em) corrections officers. If you thought hospitalization was costly, add to that two guards watching the wall, fighting germs, waiting for the shift to end. Pretty soon it adds up.
While inmates will be able to see the sky, that’s about all. No cell windows to peek out to see or visually communicate with the outside world. Exercise yards will be walled in, and each housing unit has its own yard. When an inmate enters a unit, that’s where he or she remains. That reduces movement problems which lend themselves to potential assaults. Some folks inside aren’t stellar examples of good discipline.
Yes, it’s a lot of money that could build a school, a library, a wing on Atlantic Cape Community College, maybe even a new bridge on Ocean Drive. Instead, it has to be spent because there are people who must be placed behind bars. Too bad not everyone is law-abiding, it sure would save a bundle.