Building more jail space is crazy thinking. The reason for a COUNTY jail is to house folks that are (a) pre trial(not convicted of anything) that may be a flight risk and not show up for court and to (b) hold folks convicted of crimes that have a sentence of less than 365 days in jail(simple misdemeanors). We need to ask if it is really a good use of OUR tax dollars to build more bricks and mortar or is it wiser, as many places have/are doing to use that money to keep from having folks in jail. It costs far less to keep folks out of jail than it does to build cells.
We must ask several questions before we build anything. How many folks are held under bond and how much is that bond? I would suggest that a person held on a $200.00 bond for not paying fines is not a threat to anyone and the money used to house them could be well spent else where. Yes folks need to pay their fines but it seems to me that there are other ways to get them to do so rather than spending $55.00 per day to prove a point. Yes there are a lot of folks in the jail that simply owe fines. Not a smart way to collect them as I see it.Is electronic monotoring a wiser cheeper way to go? How many are mentally ill and need services other than keeping them in jail? Would it be a wiser use of TAX dollars to treat them versus housing them at $55.00 per day? Ask jail staff how many really dont beling in jail and how many need treatment. That answer will supprise some of you.
How many of theose currentlly held are a real threat to society? I would suggest that that number is lower than you may think. How is the local drunk a threat to society? Again I would suggest that he is not. Tax dollars going for what? Keeping someone sober. Not a good use as I see it. Lock up those that are a threat to you and I. The burglars, sex offenders and those that assuult people n question belong in jail. Take a look at the jail roster(it is public record-just ask) and see who and what their charges are. The real numbers are there. Keeping bad folks off the streets is a great thing to do. Building cells to feel good and employ people is not a good use of tax dollars. Ask what are the real numbers.
Build a Work Release Center? Not a bad idea at all. Keep those convicded of crimes working so they can support their families. A good use of tax dollars.
There is NO guarantee from the Federal Marshalls Service that they will continue to hold imnmates here. There is a handshake deal that as long as Muscatine County makes them happy, they will continue to house imnates here. What happens when there is a new sheriff or a new Marshall incharge of the local office? The whole handshake deal goes out the window and the Muscatine taxpayer(you and me) are left with the bill. We need ot also ask what is the cost of making the Marshalls service happy. No one is talking about what it costs to provide the transport officers, van and gas to move them around. Not a big cost in the grand scheme of things but a cost never the less.
There are many questions to be answered long before the decission to build is made. I hope that those making the decission ask them. I also hope they get answers not skewed by one point of view.
