Releasing Jail Prisoners is Wrong

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mimms' previous early release of prisoners from the County Jail and recently announced plans to release more due to budget constraints is both bad policy and irresponsible. Statistics on repeat criminal behavior by released felons is irrefutable. Release them early and most return to the same neighborhoods and friends that got them into trouble in the first place.

Throughout most of the United States violent crime has actually been falling for some time. This is also true of the City of Fresno and Fresno County. A major reason for this decrease in crime is the implementation some years ago of community-based policing and the adoption of New York City's ComStat crime analysis system. Equally important, however, is the swift capture, trial and incarceration of bad "boys and girls." Knowing that jail awaits the perpetrator and that release will not come for some time sends a strong message to would-be criminals. Releasing prisoners early defeats the whole purpose of capture, trial and jail. Citizens are put at significant risk.

A number of individuals have raised the concept of a special tax to maintain jail operations, thereby resulting in no early release of prisoners. While this may be an appropriate response to the financial problems facing jail operations, I believe that any consideration of a special tax requires the following actions.

First, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors needs to stop ducking the jail issue under the guise of "this is an issue for Sheriff Mimms." No, this is a responsibility for elected supervisors that make more than $110,000 to make important policy decisions.

Second, a citizen commission needs to be appointed to scrub the Sheriff''s budget and make recommendations regarding the operation of the county jail.

Third, and most important in the long-term, is for the appointed commission to work with elected officials and appointed police chiefs in Fresno County to consider much-needed consolidation of city-county law enforcement activities. For years, the Fresno County and City Chamber of Commerce has attempted, to no avail, to bring these elected officials and appointed police chiefs into a cooperative working environment where efficiencies of law enforcement could be implemented. The Sheriff and Board of Supervisors have managed to kick the issue of consolidation into a convenient dark corner where it can be conveniently ignored.

Yes, we need to have a jail where prisoners stay put until they can be appropriately released into the community. But No to any special tax until Sheriff Mimms and the Board of Supervisors start working together as well as create a special commission to provide an outside perspective to the serious problems facing the county jail and citizen safety.

Coming Soon. . .

1. Surprise! You have a very needy dog.
2. Where are our private sector leaders?
3. Public transportation and the tyranny of the cell phone abuser.

Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com.