The proposed size of 110 beds is not justified.
The data provided by the Justice Center Committee does not support the projections of needed jail size. The data used by the Committee to estimate needed capacity in 2040 uses total Jail and Work Camp population since 1990. In projecting need in a recent regional jail study, every other county in the UP used inmate data since 1996. If Houghton County uses the same range of data as the other UP Counties, the projected need is much smaller.
Using inmate data (both jail and workcamp) since 1996 (same as other UP counties), the projected average daily inmate population in Houghton County in 30 years is under 60 inmates. If 60 is multiplied by 1.25 to account for classification (male/female/health,etc), peaking, and maintenance – a reasonable size jail would be closer to 80 total including work release (since work release numbers were used in the original projections).
When asked how they arrived at the proposed size, the committee members say they relied on a National expert to recommend a size. This is the same National expert that advised adjacent counties to look to Houghton County for future help housing their inmates.
The Committee notes that the current county budget will not cover the expected costs of operating the new larger jail complex. Are they counting on renting out beds to adjacent counties to cover the increased operating costs? If the jail serves adjacent counties as expected, it in effect becomes a regional jail financed by Houghton County taxpayers.
Reason #2 – It is TOO EXPENSIVE
The published cost estimates do not tell the entire story. Borrowing $15 million over 30 years will require taxpayers to pay almost $15 million additional in interest over the life of the bonds. The total project cost over 30 years is closer to $30 million.
Ogemaw County just built a new 125 bed jail in West Branch, MI for under $6 million and they plan to run it like a business by renting out inmate space to adjacent counties.
Jails are complex facilities and construction costs typically only reflect about 10% to 15% of the overall cost of a facility over a 30 year period.
Reason #3 – It is the WRONG LOCATION
To build a large jail in central Houghton that is designed for efficient expansion is just bad urban planning.
The county should seriously consider creating a regional jail at Camp Kitwen. Many other counties in the UP have similar needs for additional jail facilities. Camp Kitwen has a large bed capacity and would cost less than the current jail proposal. Considering facility costs (the state still owes $5 million in Bonds), and remodeling costs (Houghton County jail consultant estimated $5.5 million remodeling costs to convert Camp Kitwen to a Jail) – a regional jail at Camp Kitwen would cost less to build than a new regional jail in Central Houghton (Sourcebook pg 9 – “The proposed Justice Center is planned and sited to provide a range of future options for regional partnerships, with Houghton County as the lead partner.”) The proposed plan shows a jail complex spanning over 1 1⁄2 city blocks with plans for expansion. (Sourcebook pg 5 –“ It is possible, if not likely, that other counties would be interested in boarding inmates in the new jail as space is available. The proposed Justice Center is sited and designed to facilitate efficient future expansion.”)
The idea of a Regional Jail in Central Houghton that could eventually span 2 entire city blocks simply does not make sense.
- George Dewey
No comments:
Post a Comment