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March 27, 2005
Jail Expansion Opponents Push Alternatives
Sunday, March 27, 2005 Copyright C 2004 Mid-Hudson News Network
A small crowd gathered in Poughkeepsie to hear activists argue a multi-million dollar expansion of the Dutchess County Jail will not solve any problems and that the focus should be on alternatives to incarceration.
In fact, Dana Kaplan, a consultant with the National Resource Center on Prisons and Communities, sees little connection between the number of prison beds and the commonly touted reasons for building prisons.
"Prison and jail populations are not determined by the level of criminal behavior, and they are not determined by questions of community safety", Kaplan said. "Prison and jail population are determined by the politics of the time period and of the political will of those with the power to make those decisions."
Another speaker was Democrat County Legislator Barbara Jeter-Jackson. "Not saying that it may not turn out to be the fact that we have to build, but right now, all the questions that I need answered haven't been answered."
Asked if she thought more focus is needed on developing alternatives to incarceration, Jeter-Jackson replied "Absolutely".
Republican Legislator Patrick Nesbitt was there simply to listen to what they were saying. Nesbitt said there are reasonable questions that need to be asked about where the county needs to go with this, but he watching the work of the Criminal Justice Council, which is looking at a smaller addition than what was considered earlier this year, only to have the design funding vetoed by the County Executive.
"I've got a lot of confidence in them", Nesbitt said. "They have people form both sides of aisle. They have people from all areas of occupation, all kinds of expertise on that. I'm putting a lot of faith in their guidance."
The forum, at the Family Partnership Center, was organized by Dutchess Justice. Members describe themselves as a "community-based group", formed recently in response to the closing of some community programs including the Youth Resource Development Corporation.
Shortcut to: http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/DC_jail_forum-27Mar05.htm
Posted by lois at March 27, 2005 06:31 PM