County Commissioners Skip Alston and Bruce Davis have expressed concern during recent days about the budget for the county sheriff's department and the staffing requirements for the new jail.
It is not uncommon for some degree of antipathy to be held by African-American politicians toward law enforcement; and this must be viewed in the context of longstanding difficult relations between that community and police, and the large numbers of young black males that in recent times have had unwanted encounters with the criminal justice system.
In any case, we learn in the News and Record this morning Skip's attitude toward funding the operation of the new jail. He says there should be no sacred cows. I agree. But he further states he has seen "no compelling evidence" the jail needs more personnel. He says we should instead be funding jail alternatives and public health so less people will need to go to jail. He further suggests that options include not increasing the staffing level at the jail; or not opening the jail at all.
Let's think about this. Has he pushed a complete suspension of the school bond construction projects as of yet?
It is important to understand that, in the state of North Carolina, local government operates according to the ground rules established by the state. Certain functions of local government must meet minimal state requirements.
Our public health department in Guilford County operates way in excess of what the state of North Carolina truly requires. I believe the same is also true of the Guilford County Schools system. But the opposite seems to be true of our county jail.
We have been at risk of getting in trouble with the state because of the substandard state of our county jail; and that is one of the factors that motivated the jail bond issue.
These realities are a reflection of the political priorities we have had locally. But law enforcement and criminal justice should be the highest priority of local government, above all others.
How do we need to staff the county jail? I don't claim to know; but I have a suggestion. Perhaps we should take a look at what the state requires and expects of our county jail, and then make sure we have met those minimal requirements before funding extras in other county departments.
How many county law enforcement officers does state law mandate?
Posted by: Roch101 | May 26, 2011 at 08:30 AM
I am not sure if the state mandates numbers or ratios, Roch. I think it does regulate safety issues within county jails.
The staffing level should be at least at a minimal level that assures compliance with the states safety requirements. It would be good to know the precise language of those requirements-- and i do not.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | May 26, 2011 at 08:34 AM
I thought it was one.
Posted by: Roch101 | May 26, 2011 at 09:37 AM
You might be right. But I don't think anyone has suggested staffing at the minimum state requirement.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | May 26, 2011 at 11:09 AM
If I could hire Jimmy Superfly Snuka, Ernie the Cat Ladd, Wahoo McDaniels, Dusty Rhodes and Baron Von Raschke; we could run the jail with a staff of 6. I would also run pay per view fights out of the jail, offsetting the cost to run the facility. With the profits from the pay per view, I would also acquire the Greensboro Coliseum and I would have a super jam every month. Finally, I would bring justice to all on this blog who have been wronged by the system.
Posted by: Sgt. Slaughter | May 26, 2011 at 11:18 AM
That is .... Big Cat Ernie Ladd and dont you forget it!
Posted by: Mick | May 26, 2011 at 02:51 PM