News - Opinion

Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Nov. 8 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Why not house county inmates in work center building?

When the issue of renting tents or pods to relieve the overcrowding at the Jackson County Adult Detention Center came before the Pascagoula City Council, I sent an e-mail to the sheriff, state, county and city officials. I asked that they look into working with the state to remove state inmates from the Community Work Center and place them in another state-run facility.

I asked our county leaders to explore this option before we waste more taxpayer money, either by paying fines to the federal government, spending money on court appeals, or leasing pods for an undetermined number of years.

Supervisor John McKay was the only one to reply. After looking into the matter, he said it would take too long to get the state to take action to assist the county, and the sheriff would have to take some responsibility for the new facility.

Now that an appeal has been filed by property owners adjacent to the ADC, they will have plenty of time to work with the state on this option, which I believe would be a much less expensive alternative.

There are over 100 beds in the CWC building, which is next to the ADC, now housing non-violent state offenders or soon-to-be paroled inmates. It could be used in lieu of the pods to house county inmates.

I know the cities and county would encounter some hardship by losing the state-inmate workers that the CWC provides, but the county could hire additional workers with the $2 million in funds that would have been poured into temporary housing. This would help Jackson County by slightly relieving our unemployment problem. Just think how many jobs could be created with $2 million.

Since these are our tax dollars that are being used or misused, I ask that all citizens call your city, county and state officials and ask that they assist us. We need the overcrowded conditions at the ADC handled in the most cost-effective and timely manner.

ALICE BAKER

Pascagoula

How long will we waste money on expanding jails?

Supervisors in at least one Coast county are eyeing jail expansion. Again. It is amazing to me how some of our elected officials and citizens complain about the federal government wasting taxpayers’ money, but apparently consider it to be OK for local government to waste taxpayers’ money to expand a jail.

Expanding the jail should not be the first option. Alternative sentencing for those who meet the criteria, should be. This has been happening all across America with a fair amount of success. There are numerous local nonprofits and faith-based organizations that would welcome the opportunity to help persons with legal issues change behaviors and attitudes to become productive members of society, again. When spirituality (faith) meets community (love) it equals conformity (change); and for those who don’t, then they pay the penalty.