Letters – Jail-break | Opinions | thepublicopinion.com – Watertown Public Opinion

Kudos to the Public Opinion for its recent coverage on mental health screenings for criminal defendants, and the states commitment to allocate significant resources toward this growing problem.

Responsible S.D. officials continue look for alternatives to incarcerating low-level and low-risk criminals. Our Legislature commenced this initiative with Senate Bill 70, and now continues that agenda by establishing a fund to improve how mentally-ill defendants interact with the criminal justice system, all with a common goal reducing inmate numbers.

I recently listened to Attorney General Marty Jackley speak on incarceration issues. He echoed the states direction to incarcerate drug manufacturers and drug distributors, but he encourages non-incarceration alternatives for non-violent offenders (crimes associated with mental health issues, addictions and other victimless crimes). Mr. Jackleys approach is morally and fiscally solid, and demonstrates principled leadership.

The new jail opponents voted-down a $35,000,000 jail and courthouse in November 2014, and then a $27,000,000 jail in June 2017, as we have maintained a not so fast theme due to less expensive alternatives for reducing inmate numbers, with more options emerging. Other than my proposed plan of 10 percent, 20 percent, 20 percent to immediately reduce our jail population by 50 percent, to less than 50 inmates in our 96-bed jail, our county commissioners now have another option to consider, as noted above.

Despite significant costs to taxpayers, the states direction for less incarceration, two failed runs at the ballot box, and increasing alternatives to reducing inmate population at far less cost (as compared to a new jail facility), four of five county commissioners have aggressively supported and actually marketed the construction of a new jail. What will it take for those commissioners to take an honest inventory, demonstrate solid leadership, and admit that Codington County simply does not need a brand new, multi-million dollar jail?

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Letters - Jail-break | Opinions | thepublicopinion.com - Watertown Public Opinion