Jail Space

Mayoral candidate Peter Navarro Monday accused rival Susan Golding of inflating the number of jail beds in San Diego's correctional system, but the two-term county supervisor said that Navarro has botched his calculations and "doesn't understand the criminal justice system."

Sheriff Jim Roache is looking for ways to cut spending in his department. Good. With the recession lingering and all levels of government fiscally suffering, everyone has to cut back. But Roache's recent decision to scrap a highly successful program that allows low-risk female inmates to serve their time at home simply doesn't pencil out.

Ever since I was 2 years old, I have known Al Maier as Santa Claus. I am now 14 years old and still remember how much he brightened the Christmas season. He is a kind, caring man who brings the Christmas spirit into every child's heart. He does not deserve to be in jail! When I saw the article in the March 23 Orange County section ("Was Jailed Laguna Beach Santa Naughty or Nice?"), I could not believe what I read. Six months in jail is an unreasonable sentence, especially when you think of how overcrowded the jails are and the more serious crimes being committed.

Prisons have been established to punish people for the bad things they do to others. In Renee Reid's case, Judge Terry Knoepp had a sentencing range from probation to 10 years in prison to choose from. Assistant Atty. Gen. Rhonda Cartwright recommended a six-year term. The judge chose 365 days to be served in County Jail. I am sure in giving this sentence, he was aware of the overcrowding in the jails and the need to keep the population down. Thus, it appears to me it was likely that Renee would be out shortly on electronic custody.

The idea of Orange County leasing space in San Diego County's newly built but nearly empty East Mesa jail has considerable short-term appeal. It might help both counties temporarily ease their jail crises. San Diego County has one of the nation's most crowded urban jail systems. Its six jails are under a court-ordered limit of 3,685 inmates--one frequently violated--and that's about 1,200 more than they were built to house.

The idea of Orange County leasing space in San Diego County's newly built but nearly empty East Mesa jail has considerable short-term appeal. It might help both counties temporarily ease their jail crises. San Diego County has one of the nation's most crowded urban jail systems. Its six jails are under a court-ordered limit of 3,685 inmates--one frequently violated--and that's about 1,200 more than they were built to house.

Eager to collect money from the U.S. government to fully operate its new jails at last, San Diego County supervisors voted Wednesday to lease 650 jail beds to federal inmates for $13.6 million a year. The arrangement ended six months of often stormy negotiations between two law enforcement agencies--the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the U.S. marshal's office.

The City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to allow the city jail to be used as a temporary holding facility for illegal immigrants being held by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS, in return, will pay the city $75 a night for each person being held. The illegal immigrants are usually held only a day or two and are then returned to their native countries. Last spring, the council similarly voted for another plan to use empty jail space as a moneymaker.

I wonder how many Orange County citizens realize the costs involved should our legislators fail to insert flexibility into the process to fix the serious wrong of grossly inadequate state dollars to our county. Orange County has been losing over $45.7 million annually since 1986 in funding from the state for public health, indigent adult medical care, alcohol and drug abuse and mental health care. Residents who reply, "What difference do indigent medical services make to me?" need only look at the 20% or so increases which have been coming annually to their own medical insurance.