[IMC] Alert! Champaign County moving quickly to build more jail

[Charles Schultz]

Good evening,

I passed this along to Champaign County Board Member Pattsi Petrie for her
thoughts on this, and with her permission, I am including her response
below. Please forward as you see fit.


------------ from Pattsi Petrie --------------

Hum-m-m-m, thanks for sharing this. As is often the case there are some
accuracies, some near accuracies, and some inaccuracies.

It is correct that the COW, 15 April, was given a copy of a RFQ that would
be considered the next evening, 16 April, at the facility committee mtg.
The mtg was moved from the usual date that would have been the Tuesday of
the previous week.

It is not accurate that the RFQ was not available to the public, but the
period of time was short. I had sent the RFQ to James Kilgore Tuesday eveing;
however, he was moving so tough timing. Aaron Ammons did speak at the COW
mtg.

It was not the CB or COW that voted on the RFQ, it was the facilities com.
And it was unanimous because it is a RFQ.

Danielle's talking points are good. I keep mentioning to the CPJ that they
ought to stay active, attentive, and visible, as I do with any group
working on an issue..

There are many changes happening in the ether--medicaid, medicare, the
state opening some closed mental hlth facilities--at least one, the
re-entry program, but no pre-trial program. The latter two have little
chance because the SA is not on board right now. It will be hard to
determine just what spaces are needed.

The sheriff wants everything at the satellite jail, his offices, evidence
room, storage spaces, more single cell options for violent and mental
health individuals, inmates who do not get along, etc.

I hope that this gives you a better picture. Indeed, people need to show
up, talk with specific suggestions, point out major past errors that cost
the county, the changing criminal justice environment, etc.

Thanks for asking, P2

P.S. All of the documents are on the county web site--meeting packets, RFQ,
etc


On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 1:42 PM, Danielle Chynoweth <chyn at ucimc.org> wrote:

> *Alert! Champaign County is rapidly *
> *moving forward to build more jails.*
>
> What?!
>
> *Last week the county board voted unanimously to seek firms to propose a
> master plan that will likely include a multimillion dollar addition to the
> satellite jail. *This vote was proposed on Tuesday and voted on Wednesday
> - the documents were not made public until the vote. *The community had
> no chance to respond.*
>
> What is happening?
>
> After engaging the community in productive dialogue about alternatives to
> incarceration for nearly two years, and supporting efforts to invest in
> programs to decrease the jail population, the county board has taken a
> sudden about-face.
>
> In pressing for jail expansion, the Sheriff's office continues to
> underline the need for separate facilities for those with mental health
> issues, ignoring that medical facilities, not jail, are the appropriate
> places to treat mental health issues. *The plan also advocates an
> expansion of isolation cells*, the worst way to treat mental illness.
>
> What can we do?
>
> 1. Come speak at the board meeting Thursday, April 24 at 6:30pm at
> Brooken's Administrative Center, 1776 E. Washington, Urbana. (Park and
> enter from the north side off Lierman Ave).
>
>  2. Attend the next No More Jails Campaign meeting at the Independent
> Media Center, 202 S,. Broadway, Urbana – first floor - on Thursday, May 1
> at 6:30 p.m.
>
> 3. Communicate with your county board representative by email, phone or
> personal visit.
>
>         --> First, find your house on this map<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BOW1SGwniPMy527G%2FNwTNa9z%2BsUkk1m0> to
> find your district.
>
>         --> Then, look up your board representative<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=pSrGbB6GFmX5XKkahF9YOa9z%2BsUkk1m0>for that district.
>
>         --> Tell them you oppose spending more money on jail construction.
>
>
> * Some Key Points to Raise with Board members:*
>
>    - The Consultants and the Criminal Justice Task Force appointed by the
>    board delivered  one clear message in 2013: take steps to decrease the
>    jail population and you won't need to build. Board members need to follow
>    these recommendations.
>    - Set up real pre-trial services to release people who don't belong in
>    jail.
>    - Get those with mental health issues medical attention. Incarceration
>    only makes their situation worse. Taxpayer money should go for mental
>    health services in the community, not in jails.
>    - Constitute a Racial Justice Task Force to examine and help address
>    why the jail population is disproportionately African American.
>    - Jail expansion is the most expensive option. Alternatives and
>    programs like reentry, mental health, job training save money in the long
>    run and keep the county out of debt.
>
> *Thanks for speaking out!*
>
> *The No More Jails Team*
>
>  Check out the No More Jails in Champaign County website<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=xEqZRDUehS1FmSSDQTS0J69z%2BsUkk1m0>
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>



-- 
Charles Schultz
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