[Peace] jail issue / Come to County Board meeting Tuesday September 4

[Karen Medina]

On Tuesday, September 4, the County Board will decide which firm to
employ to carry out a needs assessment of the county criminal justice
system. This is a key moment for the County Board as they decide
whether to spend $20 million on jail expansion.

Three of the four firms on the shortlist are closely connected to
architects and engineers. It is obvious that they will recommend a
major construction project to maximize their own profits and those of
their partners.

The fourth firm, the Institute for Law and Policy Planning, is a
non-profit dedicated to re-structuring the system in order to reduce
the demand for jail cells.

We need people to show up at this meeting, to let the County Board
know that we are watching them, that they will not be allowed to waste
taxpayers' money on jail cells to lock up African-American youth.

Please attend this meeting. Public participation starts at 6 p.m, at
the Brookens Center, 1776 E. Washington, Urbana.