Do we need a new jail?

While Doulgas County continues to build one of the largest prisons in the state of Georgia, Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts offers alternatives to incarceration. I applaud Mr. Pitts and his proposals. Here is his take on jails and overcrowding.

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Alternatives to Incarceration

by Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts, District 2, At Large
September 12, 2011

Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of talk about jail overcrowding in Fulton County. And, the County has even been ordered to purchase the Atlanta city jail or find more bed space elsewhere. Although some believe this is the solution to the problem, I am not convinced that it is.

After discussing this issue with many in our criminal justice system, I have learned that a percentage of our jail population is made up of inmates who have mental health problems, addiction related problems or are homeless. Many of these inmates have committed misdemeanors or non-violent felonies and therefore do not need to be incarcerated.

In researching this issue, I have also learned that some jurisdictions, including Fulton County to a degree, are utilizing alternatives to incarceration. And when such alternatives are properly administered they save money in both the short term – saving incarceration costs, and the long term – by reducing recidivism and repeated system involvement.

Some of these alternatives to incarceration include:

·         Citations – Defendants are given citations/tickets for misdemeanor charges, instead of being incarcerated.

·         Pretrial Intervention Programs – First time offenders, after being screened, are diverted to pretrial intervention programs. Instead of being incarcerated, they are on bond until they complete the program and then their cases are dismissed.

·         Treatment Diversion Court – Defendants are screened at the jail and those found to have mental health problems or addiction related problems are diverted to Mental Health Court, Drug Court or DUI Court for treatment, instead of being incarcerated.

·         Electronic Monitoring – Defendants are monitored with an ankle device that transmits his or her whereabouts to their supervising officer, instead of being incarcerated.

Also, certain early release options are being used nationwide to reduce jail populations and overcrowding. Some of these early release options include:

·         Day reporting centers, work release programs, halfway houses
·         Geriatric Release (sick or elderly)
·         Less than 1 year or 10% remaining of sentence served
·         Credit for “street time” (community service, GED programs, etc.)

Admittedly, some of these alternatives and early release options are controversial but continuing to do things as we have done in the past is clearly not the answer. As such, I will continue to push for the implementation of some of these alternatives to incarceration and early release options, as opposed to purchasing or building bigger jails at this time.