(Sidebar)Last night a call went out from MDC - there's no room at the in. Our Eyes tell us that APD dispatch informed officers that the Metropolitan Detention Center was full and could not take any new prisoners. A little while later, officers were told that MDC would be processing out some prisoners to make room but that it would be 3 to 4 hours before they could take any new prisoners.
Just to be clear, the primary function of a jail or a prison is not punishment - nor is it rehabilitation. If a would-be criminal views prison as punishment and is deterred from committing a criminal act, great! Likewise, if by some miracle a prisoner is "rehabilitated" while serving as a guest of the state, it's an unexpected benefit. But... the primary function of a detention facility is to protect the rest of us from those who would do us harm by keeping them separated from the general public. That's it and that's all.
We believe that building and operating jails with sufficient capacity to meet the detention needs of the community is a matter of public safety and therefore, a core function of government. Build more, build often and find ways to keep criminals away from the general public.
(End Sidebar)
The first thing that ran through our mind was "who the heck are they kicking loose?" Assuming that there's a reason for a prisoner's detention, letting them go is a cause for concern. Apparently the "no vacancy" sign was only lit last night. But it underscores the on-going crime problem that we've got in the Albuquerque metro area and the dangerously high occupancy of the MDC.
If there are times when there's no room at the inn, it's time to build a bigger hotel - even if the addition is a tent city. Jail officials shouldn't be forced to release their "guests" early simply because they need the space.
7 comments:
Obviously .... every one that stays at the "Inn" should have never been arrested in the first place. Another project that has been well thought out by those in charge!
You said it,,, build a "tent city" out there! Sheriff joe has balls out there in AZ.
I am all about the tent city. ABQ could have it year round without problem. Jail is too comfortable right now for all those inmates, otherwise they would work harder at not getting there. Plus, tents are cheap, and I would rather take the cheap route of housing America's worst than give them a nice facility. I would totally vote for a sheriff that promised a tent city.
In Bernalillo County the Sheriff does not run the jail and Deputies do not work there. Sheriff's have tried to get control of the Jail but the County Commission has always put a stop to it so they can hire "there people" for the management positions. I agree, we should have a tent city for the criminals but first we need to put control of the jail in the Sheriff's hands.
Heard on the dispatch radio today....2-3 hour wait at MDC, allowing 5 arrestees in the jail at a time. Officers are sitting in the parking lot with their arrestees, waiting. This is during swingshift which is about 1/2 as busy as graveyard in relation to arresting people.
Good job officers...get them off the streets, shame on you county commission!
That would be just brilliant...put MDC in control of BCSO ( no offense to the deputies ) but White would jack things up there as well. And MDC closed its doors again today I heard...
It happened again, MDC is at capacity and will no longer accept any prisoners., happened right around 2pm
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