Cramming in the inmates
January 12, 2008
by David Stephenson | staff
Like many in Kentucky, the Kenton County jail and the Lincoln County Regional jail is seriously overcrowded and outdated, and yet the state contracts with them to hold state prison inmates because there are no available beds in the state prisons. Kenton County Jailer Terry Carl is concerned enough about the crowding that he has been slowly reducing his involvement with the state’s contract-prisoner program, and Lincoln County Jailer David Gooch has big ideas about a new jail.
Read the story by John Cheves.
Share This 2,340 views
I commend Mr. Cheves for highlighting this very important issue that has been growing steadily worse over the years.
I too commend Mr. Cheves for brining to light the fact our jails and prisons are way over cowered. Yes, a lot of this has to do with the unbalance of laws to punishment. But more has to do with the policy and procedures set forth by the Department of Corrections. Mainly I’m speaking about he Probation and Parole Department.
First of all it’s hard enough to even make parole, but when one does leave it to the Probation and Parole Officer to look for the smallest infraction to Revoke the person’s parole. Yes, it cost the state a lot of money to send each parolee back to prison. Most of which does NOT deserve to be sent back. So, if Gov. Besher would Really like to know how to make some cost savings from the prisons, then go else where for help and not to John Reese or any of the ones who make the policy and procedures. John Reese has already cost this state A LOT of unnecessary spending.
I think that the KY Jailers do an excellent job and the the fingers are pointed at the wrong people who are truly responsible for the overcrowded jails. The Courts…prosecutors and judges should be held accountable and are given too much discretion when it comes to sentencing. Until they are reasched, KY will continue to spend money on its inmate population. The jails cant refuse a prsioner, unless they are not medically fit to be in the jail. So when the judges sentence unreasonably, the jailers have to take that prisoner or face contempt, malfeasance, etc. for not doing so.
This is a remarkable story. In 1990, while attending College in Louisville, Kentucky, I wrote about the same subject. as a class project while an undergraduated in Paralegal studies. Jail overcrowding. This issue creates an unhealthy envioronment for the prisoners whom I mind you are innocent until proven guilty. Folks, those so called over crowded jails are housing for the accused and minor offensive prisoners. I beleive that 18 years later after I wrote my story that this is a subject which gives Doctors the opporturniety to stand for and speak about the statistics of all jails in the Commonwealth and warn about unfair dieseased cells which may ulnltimately carry in to the real world, jail employees , the families and neighbors after the release of some one whom has been incarcerated. This problem has gotten worse. This is unfair to those who have never been incarcerated to be standing by some one who has. Jailers, employees and incarcerated jail people, please tell your Doctor about what you witness on a daily event. Scream for help!
There is not need for a jail to be filthy! No matter how crowded, the inmates can be told to clean their own space. Given a wash cloth and some bleach.
We need legislation to see that things are changed in our correction system. We have people who are addicted to pills jailed with murderers. The addict goes to jail and the child predator goes free. It is like sending someone to jail for having cancer or Parkinson’s…or senility! It’s ignorant.
MY HUSBAND WHO IS 61 YRS OLD HAD A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN BOWLINGREEN KY.WHILE DRIVING AN 18 WHEELER HE WAS FOLLOWING ANOTHER 18 WHEELER HE LOOKED DOWN TO REACH FOR HIS COFFEE , WHEN HE LOOKED UP THE LEAD 18 WHEELER HAD MOVED TO THE LEFT AND THERE WS A CAR WHICK HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. WITH 18 WHEELERS YOU CANT STEP ON THE BRAKE AND IT STOPS YOU HAVE TO GEAR DOWN AS MANY AS 16 GEARS–HE TRIED TO AVOID IT BY OVERCORRECTING TO THE RIGHT BUT SADLY HIT THE BACK KILLING A YOUNG GIRL..THIS HAS DEVASTED HIM. BUT IT WAS A N ACCIDENT. HIS SENTENCE 6YEARS THE JUDGE TOLD HIM HE WAS SENDING HIM TO PRISON TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF HIM FOR OTHER TRUCK DRIVERS. HE DROVE 21/2 MILLION MILES WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT OR A TICKET. I KNOW THE STATE OF KENTUCKY HAS SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THAT BED MORE THAN HIM –AM I JUST CRAZY OR PUTTING SOMEONE IN PRISON FOR A TRAGIC ACCIDENT SEEM LIKE A WASTE OF TAX PAYERS MONEY?
Like stated in this article, jails are meant to hold only those who are still on trial so they can be close to the courthouse. To hold state & federal prisoners in local jails is cruel. There is absolutely nothing for them to do, no libraries, no reform, no sunshine. Think about it, what would that be like? I don’t sympathize so much for the violent criminals because we have to keep them behind bars to protect the innocent, but non-violent offenders don’t deserve this kind of punishment. Send them home with ankle bracelets and/or order treatment. Locking them up like animals is only going to make them worse, and possibly turn them into violent criminals. I say put more money in treatment programs & let the non-violent offenders out of these overcrowded jails.
As a busness person, I would send the truck driver home with a braclet, let his state be responsable for him. It has cost the stat of kentucky close to $7000 to keep a man who for 61 years has not had a run in with the law. How many out of state minor offence prisnors( I mean first timers not short time repete offenders )are we supporting in our systems? There has to be a better way for both prisons and non voilent prisoners. It is a growing concern in all states . I hope our new govoner can come up with a solution
I find it hard to believe, the overall ignorance and incompatence of the decision makers here in KENTUCKY. And am really disappointed in John Cheves, for not responding to my e-mail. I am house mgr. of OXFORD HOUSE/MAXWELL. I use the description of house mgr only to describe myself in terms that would be more easily understood. I am actually just one of the men living in this sober living,alcohol/drug free family house. We have [3] three houses here in lexington, providing for 30 men. I choose to invite any and all to join us for a cup of coffee day or night to see what makes this work. 431 E. Maxwell St. 523-3026.
our first guys leave for work at 3:00a.m. Want to see the solution to the jail overcrowding problem. Come over and visit us. Ask for CHARLIE and you’ll get a taste of something sweet with your coffee. What a nice day to start the day. O.K. NOW LET’S STOP B.S.ing and talking aBOUT A BAD SITUATION, let’s put some ACTION behind our words. STOP BY AND VIEW THE SOLUTION.
peace&love
charlie
I have a fiancee who had a problem with alcohol, he last year was involve in an auto accident and a woman who was pregnant, lost her baby due to the accident. He was made an example of for drinking and driving and is currently serving his time. He is learning his lesson the hard way though, with the overcrowding of jails and prisons going on these programs to rehabilate people like himself from alcohol/ drugs are on a waiting list which is pretty long by the way. This is the way it is on all there programs in the prison that he is at. He wishes each day that no one had gotten hurt that day but they did and he is trying to learn to live with that for the rest of his life. He has a broken ankle that he had two surgeries on before they came to lock him up and since he is not allowed to use crutches when he needs them or a cane he has to walk on this leg and his ankle is still broken. I recently had to call the prison to get them to look at his ankle, cause he has been there for over four months and no doctor has seen him yet. Cruel and unusal is what I think of it. I know he has to serve for what he has done, I just agree with what others have said that the judges, prosecutors, should take a look at the problem of the overcrowding and decide on what is appropriate for each situation that comes before them, and find a way to make things better in these prisons and jails. After all these are still human beings, we are talking about.
In 2004 my son broke a liquor store window. He was charged with breaking and entering. He did get probation intil 2010. In 2007 he got drink on his birthday. In December he was sent to county jail-violation. In January 2008 he was sent to VOA in Louisville, this was a free program and he did nto have any money. When he got his tax check he spent it on getting into BETA in Frankfort, this is 28 to 30 day program. On the 31st day he was kicked out because someone jumped on his back and after several request for the guy to get off he removed the other guy. He and the other guy were told to leave. He reported to his PO, his lawyer-court appointed got punched in the face on national television lawyer-and the judge. The next day he reported to his PO and was taken to jail-violation for not completing the program. He has a bed reserved at a halfway house in E-town where he can work and support his 3 month old, which was born while he was at VOA. His PO would rather him do 2 years in jail. AND THEY WONDER WHY THE JAILS ARE OVERCROWDED. ITS TIME FOR OUR ELECTED, BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE, TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE.