As I noted earlier this week, Commissioners Skip Alston and Bruce Davis have made some noises about the costs associated with the new county jail.
But our memories tend to decay quickly.
Here are the minutes from a November 17, 2005 commissioners' meeting. You will see on page 18 a reference to a letter that had been sent by the state jail inspector on the matter of overcrowding in the Guilford County Jail. We had apparently been operating in violation of state requirements. The state engages in some regulatory activity with respect to the manner in which county jails are operated; and the focus of the state's interest appears to be safety.
The deficiencies we have had with our county jail are to be contrasted with the fact that, in the case of our schools system and our public health department, we operate well in excess of state requirements.
This bears repeating. We far exceed state requirements for the schools and the health department. But we have failed to meet state requirements with respect to our jail.
Let's keep this in mind as Alston and Davis demagogue the issue further.
For once in his time on the GCBC , and it pains me to say it, Skip is right. The present jail and for that matter the entire Sheriff's Dept is over staffed. The Rhino will soon be publishing salaries. Take a close look.
King Barnes reminds us he is an elected official. I would remind him that firing is also an option. I don't know what kind of operation he envisions... some mini mental hospital for short term stays or cushy type Federal country club prison. Not his job. His head is big enough already. It needs shrinking along with the bloated GCSD.
Posted by: john galt | May 29, 2011 at 02:53 PM
John, I agree that we should not make our county jail a built-in social services department, or a rehabilitation agency. We need to remember the jail is intended as a temporary holding place-- not as a prison. But it appears that, beneath the radar screen, the planning for the new jail incorporated these components. I think that is unfortunate. That is a great deal for the county taxpayer to be subsidizing.
I think we need to give the Sheriff enough to do his job and meet state requirements. We need to have enough staff to operate the new jail safely.
I think we can close the prison farm permanently (again, the county taxpayer should not be liable for rehabilitation expenses). And if we can do without the High Point jail, that would be great.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | May 30, 2011 at 08:59 PM
Joe,
Planned componets for the new jail were not written in stone tablets and should be subject to reconsideratiom. Certainly you don't disagree ?
In these hard times, royalty like the Sheriff can make some concessions consistent with good efficent government.
As I said Skip and hopefully other Commissioners will take a sharp pencil and look closely at what BJ is spending to run his kingdom .
Posted by: john galt | May 30, 2011 at 11:54 PM
As a police officer, the GC jail is always full and very often, the jail is obligated to let suspects go free, on a written promise to appear. Charges like drug felonies, breaking and entering, assaults etc... are sent home. Also, illegal aliens with no form of ID are sent home because of space at the GC jail. Safety first and safety for our deputies who get assalted by inmates... The economy is bad and crime will go up, even if local politicians lie about the stats...Make inmates pay for their food and make their lives hard enough where scums will not come back to our area.
Posted by: taxed | May 31, 2011 at 01:03 AM
John, my understanding is that the jail is for the most part completed. All these "components" were apparently built into the design. But I am all in favor of economizing whereever we can, consistent with safety requirements.
Taxed, I agree for the most part. We need to have adequate capacity for the demands that the jail will be facing. Letting suspects go because the jail might be full is unacceptable. That is why we need to be careful with respect to Skip Alston's position regarding the jail. We need to ask whether that is the outcome he really wants (sending suspects home).
Posted by: Joe Guarino | May 31, 2011 at 06:50 AM
Joe I would rather belive that you are misinformed independent of any wolf crys from the sheriff or his bullying tactics. What does G4Gc have to say about this issue. Or is it the 3rd rail ?
Planned components , whatever that means, can't be that sacosanct and not subject to adjustment.
Did you know that the top floor of the courthouse stayed vacant for years and years. So much for planned components.
Posted by: john galt | May 31, 2011 at 03:10 PM
C$GC has not spoken to the jail as far as I know, John.
When I say "components", I am referring to the apparent reality-- at least, as reported-- that the new jail was built a certain way to accommodate the incorporation of various social services and a rehabilitative environment. Perhaps some of that can be adjusted. I really don't know.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | May 31, 2011 at 04:57 PM
Well then I suggest Jodi Riddleberger, Jeff Hyde et al get a green eye shade and a jeweler's loupe and scrutinize the GCSD's budget line by line.
As I said I hate to utter these words but in this case Alston is spot on.
Posted by: john galt | May 31, 2011 at 06:01 PM
John, I think we have to examine his motives. It is his side, after all, that has most argued for the more rehabilitative approach. The east Greensboro political community, as a general rule, feels very conflicted, at best, about the number of young black males in jail and in prison.
If Alston wants to find economies that preserve jail safety and public safety, then I agree with him entirely.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | May 31, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Can we count on C4GC to be unbiased and to go after an elected official who is a Republican and who supports C4GC's efforts?
Posted by: wantstoknow | May 31, 2011 at 06:50 PM
Folks, this post is not about C4GC. It is about the Sheriff's Department, the jail and the county commissioners. C4GC is not a player in this particular discussion.
C4GC has not had enough manpower to address every county department, and every line item. It is an activist group, and has the right to set its own priorities for its own activities.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | May 31, 2011 at 07:23 PM
Joe,
I'd like to hear that from them
Posted by: john galt | June 01, 2011 at 01:39 AM
"I'd like to hear that from them"
Why don't you ask them?
Posted by: Bubba | June 01, 2011 at 08:33 AM
Joe frequently speaks directly with their leadership, I assume, and perhaps he is in fact speaking for them. They certainly read this blog and the N&R and can't help but be aware of this controversy. Maybe they are just uncomfortable siding with Skip , even if the facts support trimming Barnes' request.
Posted by: john galt | June 01, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Let's try this again: Why don't you ask them yourself?
Posted by: Bubba | June 01, 2011 at 12:21 PM
What are you Bubba Joe's second ?
Posted by: jon galt | June 01, 2011 at 06:39 PM
I am a member of C4gc as well as other Conservative and Republican organizations. I am not speaking for C4gc but for myself and how I see the situation. Sheriff BJ Barnes does not deserve the derision shown him in some of the comments above. He has done an exemplary job in keeping us safe. He is a hard worker and very committed to the citizens of Guilford county. He is also a compassionate man and has first-hand knowledge of the prisoners who inhabit his jail and their stories. He has agonized over the conditions these people have endured in the old and overcrowded jail. He also has great concern for the safety of his guards who have to deal with these prisoners in this very unfavorable and volitive atmosphere. The public is also at risk if there are escapes or prison riots. From what I understand many members of past and present Councilmembers have expressed concern for the conditions at the old jail and have pushed for the new jail to have programs to help the prisoners begin on the road to rehabilitation. Now-they are castigating him for providing for this in the new jail. Is the world upside down?!! The new jail needs to be staffed appropriately. As a part of C4gc I will ask the group to begin to look at the Sheriff's budget. Remember- all of the people who are in C4gc are VOLUNTEERS. Many of these citizen patriots have jobs and families. Politics does not play a part in this - number of volunteers and time does.
Posted by: Joanne Wittenborn | June 01, 2011 at 11:14 PM
"What are you Bubba Joe's second ?"
What are you, "jon"? Another sock puppet?
Posted by: Bubba | June 02, 2011 at 08:37 AM
Joanne, it is the other side that typically makes a bigger issue of rehabilitation in the criminal justice system. I personally don't think we need to provide that level of amenity in a county jail. I think that is better handled by the state. But to the extent that Sheriff Barnes might have been responding to the concerns expressed by a majority Democrat Board of County Commissioners when offering this amenity, it is more understandable.
But regardless of the rehabilitation issue, we certainly need to do a better job of maintaining a safe environment in our county jail(s).
Posted by: Joe Guarino | June 02, 2011 at 08:52 AM
Got your tax increase Bubba. Happy now ?
Posted by: john galt | June 03, 2011 at 01:25 AM