04/30/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Replying to a question from Mr. Gleason, Mr. Salmony said that 207 probably is the maximum population the courts would allow in the new jail. He said courts have permitted several inmates in a cell only when inmates are in the cells less than 12 hours a day and when there are extensive recreational facili- ties. He said one expert stated that 207 was too many inmates for the new jail; consequently, that number probably would have been reduced if the County had become involved in litigation. Mr. Johnson emphasized that the jail should be operated at only 85 percent of capacity because of the sex and cus- tody classifications of prisoners. Mr. Salmony said that Lane County has taken actions to meet the jail crlS1S. The Criminal Process Coordinating Council (CPCC) was established and charged with advising the Lane County Board of Commissioners about the crisis. The cpce, the commissioners, and the sheriff have started several new programs. For example, about 35 inmates cut brush and pick up litter along county roads on weekends in the road fund work program. Other new programs are the Commun- ity Correction Center, the electrical supervision program, the pre-trial supervision program, the expedition of pre-trial investigation program, the reopening of the mental health section of the jail, and contracting for detoxification beds outside the jail. Answering questions from Ms. Wooten and Ms. Schue, Mr. Johnson said about 90 people are arrested each month for alcohol and drug offenses. The County purchases nine beds from Buckley House now but more are needed. Mr. Salmony said people who are difficult to manage cannot be sent to such facilities as BUCkley House. Mr. Johnson said the mental health unit of the jail can accommodate 20 people, but it is not a crisis intervention unit. He said people are transported to Dammasch State Hospital in emergencies. Discussing long-term planning, Mr. Johnson said the National Institute of Corrections is providing assistance to Lane County in forecasting the number of secure beds needed in the year 2000. He said options available to the County are: adding two floors to the existing jail at a cost of $9 million, the construction of a new facility at the site of the old jail, the establish- ment of a work camp, and a combination of the options and alternative methods of incarceration. He said the Lane County Board of Commissioners will review the long-range plan in August 1986. Replying to questions from Mr. Hansen and Mr. Miller, Mr. Johnson said the office space in the jail could be used for inmate beds, but then new offices would have to be constructed. Mr. Salmony said redesigning the jail would not add very many additional beds. Mr. Johnson said the State bond measure on the May ballot provides for cooperation between State and County jurisdictions for regional jails. Mr. Johnson said the Lane County Board of Commissioners directed that immed- iate solutions to the jail crisis be examined in order to handle City inmates and to end the pre-trial release of some prisoners. He said one of the immed- iate solutions is a temporary facility on the site of the old jail. He said that about 66 percent of the inmates are pre-trial and pre-sentencing inmates. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 30, 1986 Page-4