Pubdate: Tue, 19 Nov 2002
Source: Colorado Springs Independent Newsweekly (CO)
Copyright: 2002 Colorado Springs Independent
Contact:  http://www.csindy.com/csindy/current/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1536
Author: Henry Sontheimer

THROW AWAY THE KEY

I believe the Independent's assessment of the El Paso County Jail Bond 
issues is flawed [Endorsements, Oct. 17].

The short-term fix of sending our prisoners to other county jails compares 
very unfavorably with the long-term solution offered by expanding our own 
jail. Other counties charge about $55 per day, or $20,000 per year to hold 
one inmate.

So if El Paso County were to contract with other counties to hold 250 
inmates per year, the annual cost to the County would be $5 million. This 
cost appears to be marginally cheaper than the annual cost of the two 
ballot issues. However, the sheriff would incur additional costs to 
transport these prisoners around the state, assuming that there would be 
250 beds available to rent.

More importantly, securing 250 additional beds is not a long-term solution, 
while building an 850-bed addition (for about the same annual cost) is 
projected to meet the County's needs for 15 to 20 years.

As to your call for "long-term judicial reforms," most sentencing practices 
are governed by state laws and not by local policy. The sheriff's office 
and other county agencies have vigorously promoted the use of electronic 
monitoring, and this option has helped reduce pressure on the jail.

You also refer to sentencing reform for "victimless and drug crimes." On a 
typical day, less than 1 percent of the prisoners in our jail are there 
strictly for marijuana offenses. The crimes for which most inmates are 
being held -- drug manufacture or distribution, robbery, assault, burglary, 
and driving under the influence -- are hardly victimless.

-- Henry Sontheimer

Colorado Springs

Editor's note: The author is the criminal justice planner for the El Paso 
County government.