Build It – They Will Come
It seems that the folks in Delaware County have a “field of dreams” situation going on.
Back in 1997 the voters of Delaware County approved a half-cent increase in the sales tax to fund a new jail.
Their new jail costing $3.8 million, was designed to hold 61 prisoners and opened for business in year 2000.
Now, here it is 2008 and the Delaware County Public Facilities Authority has voted unanimously to build a new, new jail.
This one costing $11.4 million and large enough to hold 228 prisoners.
Reportedly the population of the Delaware County Jail has ranged from 68 to 81 over the past several months.
So, in a county where in 1997 they “under-built” a jail on the cheap, they now wish to “over-build” a jail on the not-so-cheap.
Why ya’ reckon that is?
Why build a jail almost three-times that required to house the current maximum jail population?
The obvious answer is that the folks in Delaware County want to operate a “rent-a-jail”, taking in state prisoners and possibly even out of state prisoners on a paying basis.
Evidently the folks behind this field of dreams have not heard of the problems other “rent-a-jail” operations have run into in Oklahoma.
Changes in Department of Corrections policies, transferring the responsibilities for inmate medical costs to the counties have several counties in a financial bind, including Tulsa County which was recently sued by local hospitals demanding payment for treating pre-existing conditions of inmates housed in the county jail.
The voters of Delaware County need to consider whether they really want to get into the “rent-a-jail business”, as most Oklahoma Counties that have tried it have found it is not the money maker promised but rather a continual financial drain on the county.
Delaware County residents under-built the last jail.
This time they need to consider carefully whether they wish to over-build.
But one thing is certain.
Build it – they will come.
Question is, can you afford it???
It’s not just the “rent a cell” idea they have in mind. I can just about guarantee you that they will have that new jail completely filled up with local inmates very soon.
Has anyone noticed that in counties where there is only a three or four celled jail, the “crime rate” by the cops is said to be quite low? (thanks to them of course)
Build a bigger jail and the “crime rate” ALWAYS goes up. The more inmates, the more money the county gets.
Increased crime does NOT make bigger jails. Bigger jails increase the crime. Sounds crazy, but it’s true. If you want to live somewhere quiet and peaceful with a low crime rate, pick a place that has a tiny jail.
Hey, this is Delaware county. What do you expect? Just about anything goes. I grew up in Delaware Co and yes they need a bigger jail, or build a prison east of town for the child molesters and the prosecuting attorneys and judges who fail to put these people away. Don`t forget the drunken sherrifs and those who shoot them.
Ok, Dawn. Your article made no sense and is completely ludicrus. I am sorry to say, but why on earth would people want a bigger jail so that the crime rate will go up? Have you gone mad??? People lives in Delaware County because it is small, quite and low in crime. Your article suggests that we move to a smaller County with a smaller jail to accomodate a low crime county. Ah, I don’t think so. The Jail was supposed to have been increased years ago, what did they do with the money? All I see bigger is the offices in the courthouse, not the cells. Why would should the county want a bigger jail house, when every article suggests that it will put the county in debt and then who will pay for the debt? The homeowners will be left footing the bill, and for what? MORE CRIME? as you put it? Voters would have to be mad to even think of voting for something of this nature.
Delaware County law is a joke in it self. You people that live there are going to pay for all there dumb mistakes. Not by I or anyone I know but for there decisions they make on stupid so called justice. With them its all about the money. Who can be bought and bribed who the snitches are and who has the most money. Opps, I think my house is going to be burned down now. Or my car is going to be found along a country road somewhere. Then the case is going to be lost when someone that knew me asked for it. Seems to me we slowly start to find out who the real criminals are. Our community is poor and poverty stricken. They waste money on stupid ideas like the one above to help farm and preserve people to make money. Hows that going to help the community?