3/1/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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to blend certified personnel with uncertified along with a training program. Commissioner Wheeler believed we are a long way from anything reasonable. He noted that last year the state spent 60 million on jails for 12 million people while we have spent 12 million for 80,000 people, and now the state is trying to figure out a way to dump prisoners back onto the county for two years rather than one. Our problem is only going to worsen. Chairman Scurlock pointed out that on TV he has seen prisoners in a state institution being housed in tents, and yet they are telling us we can't put prisoners in our brand new jail. Doug Wright, Emergency Management Director, and former employee of the D.O.C., informed the Board that before he left the employ of the state, he was involved in considerable litigation involving counties, and he believed the judges were sympathetic to counties that were doing everything in their power to mitigate these problems. He is not here recommending we get the issue before a judge, but from what he has seen, he did feel Indian River County is making every effort and that possibly it is time to sit back down with the D.O.C. and see what they can do to help us short of going to court. Chairman Scurlock asked what kind of standards the D.O.C. applies to themselves in that we can't do what they do in the state prison system. Director Wright confirmed their standards are different and applied differently. Discussion ensued at length regarding the frustrating position the county is in, and Director Wright pointed out that we did change the use of the facility, and that, in turn, changed the staff requirements. ON MOTION by Commissioner Eggert, SECONDED by Commis- sioner Bird, the Board unanimously added discussion re the need for additional correctional personnel to the agenda. 50 WAR i 1988 BOOK .71 PACE 148