8/21/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sheriff Roy Raymond expressed his appreciation for this opportunity , to review the overcrowding issue and the need for expansion at the County Jail . He asked that the Public Safety Coordinating Committee be reactivated to conduct a study and come back to the Board with recommendations . Projections predict a jail population of up to 600 inmates by 2004 and he would like staff to be trained and in place 6 months prior to opening of the proposed expanded jail facilities . There is currently a jail population as high as 480 in the current 453 - bed facility . There are currently 9 ladies sleeping on the floor or on makeshift beds . The overcrowded conditions create a high liability situation . In 1992 there were 137 employees in the jail and when he took office there were only 121 employees . Even with 6 new positions , the staff would be down by 17 from the Department of Corrections recommendations . The committee is comprised of himself, the Jail Administrator, a representative from the State ' s Attorneys Office , the Public Defender ' s Office , the Juvenile Justice Office, and the County Commission . Once the Committee is able to make some recommendations , a determination can be made as to what federal monies are available . The federal government will not commit funds to the project until such time as the needs have been identified and ground has been broken for the expansion . Commissioner Macht also suggested that there may be an opportunity to work with the judiciary on alternative sentencing guidelines for non-violent offenders . Sheriff Raymond suggested that the new drug court will also relieve some of the overcrowding in that those sentenced to the weekend work program are no longer housed at the jail . AUGUST 21 , 2001 8 19 PG 2 19 - 28 - Elm M