[Peace] so many events tonight / County Board meeting and the issue of the expansion of the Champaign County Jail

[Karen Medina]

There are at least two other events this evening that conflict with
this meeting, so choose one issue BUT DON'T SIT ON THE COUCH this
evening!!!

RE: the issue of the expansion of the Champaign County Jail

There is a Champaign County Board meeting this evening Tuesday,
February 7, 2012 starting at 6pm.
at Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 E. Washington, Urbana, IL,  61802.
Public comments are at the beginning of the meeting

There are many reasons why the group, CU Citizens for Peace and
Justice, is opposed to the expansion of the county jail; here are some
highlights:
- We should be looking for ways to decarcerate people in Champaign
County (implementing diversion programs, expanding mental health &
substance abuse services, etc.) rather than incarcerating more people.
- Although they represent only 12% of the overall population in
Champaign County, African-Americans represent more than half of the
population currently incarcerated in the county jail.  Expanding the
jail facilities will only increase the disproportionate number of
African-Americans incarcerated in our county.
- The county is already $55 million in debt due to the expansion of
the county nursing home.
- Expanding the jail will divert resources from existing county
initiatives that reduce incarceration, like the expansion of county
mental health services.
- The Sheriff plans to rent part of the expanded jail to the federal
government, which will lead to increased immigration detention in
Champaign County.