The Dutchess County Legislature recently voted to approve the building of a new county jail, or Justice and Transition Center as it is being named. The proposal for the building project has been under much scrutiny from the public as well as some legislators. There are many citizens as well as government officials who believe the new facility is necessary to maintain an efficient and effective justice system. Opinion aside, Dutchess County has been under direct order from the New York State Commission of Correction(COC), since 2005, to expand their jail capacity in order to house the total number of inmates the county is responsible for. Some argue that there is a need to build the proposed facility, and there are others who believe that a
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O'Neil very clearly explained, Dutchess County is required by law to operate a jail and has been ordered by the COC to house all those mandated to jail in Dutchess County. He explained, if we are going to proceed with the project, we need to do it right. This issue has been plaguing the Dutchess County for over twenty years. The county did not impulsively jump to a solution. Over the past four years they have methodically analyzed, studied and planned the solution recently approved by the county legislature. In 2014, the county spent $8.2 million housing inmates in other counties because there was not enough room in the county jail. Every day on average approximately two hundred-fifty inmates needed to be housed out. In 2015 Dutchess County officials reached an agreement with the COC to construct temporary housing units saving the county over $1 million, however, Dutchess County also agreed to seek a permanent solution. The current sight was made usable for the expansion through demoliting the sheriffs office, which is nearly 100 years old, and relocating to a new location. The new solution proved economical because the old facility is inefficient. The current staffing ratio is 1-to-1.2(that is the number of COs vs the number of inmates) new jail design ratios are 1-to-3 or better considering a CO costs, on average, $100,000 per year and the county seeks …show more content…
No, but thanks to the agreement with the COC there already is a temporary fix that saves the county millions of dollars during the construction of the permanent solution. Is this a new national justice model? Yes it is. Dutchess County has one of the most progressive criminal justice environments, and with this new facility we will be able to meet the various inmate classifications, addressing the needs of special populations such as women, youth, those with mental illness and substance abuse and separating inmates by risk. There will be space to provide programming-cognitive behavioral therapies- to address criminogenic and behavioral issues so that inmates can break the cycle of crime. As part of a restorative justice process, these individuals returning to the community will now receive mentoring, case management, support groups and assistance finding employment. As they become productive members of society, the probability of re-offense diminishes and the communities public safety is enhanced. It is easy to voice opposition to this program and anti-judicial voices think that not building modern jail facilities will reduce the number of inmates. They are wrong. Dealing with the individuals in a compassionate, comprehensive and fair way is progressive in the way Dutchess county is
O'Neil very clearly explained, Dutchess County is required by law to operate a jail and has been ordered by the COC to house all those mandated to jail in Dutchess County. He explained, if we are going to proceed with the project, we need to do it right. This issue has been plaguing the Dutchess County for over twenty years. The county did not impulsively jump to a solution. Over the past four years they have methodically analyzed, studied and planned the solution recently approved by the county legislature. In 2014, the county spent $8.2 million housing inmates in other counties because there was not enough room in the county jail. Every day on average approximately two hundred-fifty inmates needed to be housed out. In 2015 Dutchess County officials reached an agreement with the COC to construct temporary housing units saving the county over $1 million, however, Dutchess County also agreed to seek a permanent solution. The current sight was made usable for the expansion through demoliting the sheriffs office, which is nearly 100 years old, and relocating to a new location. The new solution proved economical because the old facility is inefficient. The current staffing ratio is 1-to-1.2(that is the number of COs vs the number of inmates) new jail design ratios are 1-to-3 or better considering a CO costs, on average, $100,000 per year and the county seeks …show more content…
No, but thanks to the agreement with the COC there already is a temporary fix that saves the county millions of dollars during the construction of the permanent solution. Is this a new national justice model? Yes it is. Dutchess County has one of the most progressive criminal justice environments, and with this new facility we will be able to meet the various inmate classifications, addressing the needs of special populations such as women, youth, those with mental illness and substance abuse and separating inmates by risk. There will be space to provide programming-cognitive behavioral therapies- to address criminogenic and behavioral issues so that inmates can break the cycle of crime. As part of a restorative justice process, these individuals returning to the community will now receive mentoring, case management, support groups and assistance finding employment. As they become productive members of society, the probability of re-offense diminishes and the communities public safety is enhanced. It is easy to voice opposition to this program and anti-judicial voices think that not building modern jail facilities will reduce the number of inmates. They are wrong. Dealing with the individuals in a compassionate, comprehensive and fair way is progressive in the way Dutchess county is