Sunday, December 3, 2017

No Bailout for CC's Justice System Leaders


The Register Star reported on the new Columbia County Bail Fund, and Supervisor Elect Mussmann and the citizens forming it should be commended on their proactive role in attempting to solve some of the pressing problems in our local criminal justice system.  Our local tax payers and concerned citizens should be very happy.

The reality and history, however, are even more disturbing than what was described in the article.  Our local system has been broken for years and despite some attempts for reform, it remains the same.  Everything Supervisor Mussmnan states about the system is true.  People do plead guilty to violations and misdemeanors, whether guilty or not, just to get out of jail.

The key public officer in this abuse is District Attorney Czajka.  It is standard operating procedure for this DA to state to defense counsel:  “Tell your client to plead guilty and I will recommend time served to the judge.”  Imagine yourself in such a situation.  Unfortunately, desperation takes control of reason.
About forty years ago Catholic Charities formed a bail fund that failed for lack of funds and public officials’ support.  The Columbia County Probation Department has had a Pretrial Release program funded by a State grant for years and it failed miserably in its purposes.  Bail issues for the poor and unconnected have been an ongoing issue in this County.

And the lack of nominal bail for an individual charged with nonviolent violations and misdemeanors has major financial and social consequences.
       First, the County jail costs about $100 per day per prisoner.  And if the defendant loses his job,  apartment, or both because of this incarceration, then he or she becomes dependent on the local welfare system, costing the taxpayer much more, particularly when there are children involved.  The costs snow ball when the defendant needs food, motel shelter, medical care, transportation and foster care.
       Second, the human and social costs that will be incurred are significant.  The trauma of family separation and resulting mental health issues are well documented.
       Think of the thousands of individuals and families that have been negatively impacted over the last fifty years because of our local failures.  Think of all that money wasted only to give us a false sense of security.

The criminal justice system needs to be dictated by what’s in the best interest of society, and that is saving the taxpayers’ money and human resources and helping to ensure a productive life for those charged with minor crimes.

Why isn’t our system working?  There is a disconnect between the County’s publically stated values and core beliefs and what is really going on.  Where are the criminal justice leaders who are willing to lead the County in another direction using evidence based on research and common sense?

A report from the Pretrial Release Representative provided a scoring system that would help determine if a defendant was a good candidate for ROR (released in own recognizance).  Why aren't our criminal justice leaders employing this scoring system?

This system can change, but it means introducing efficient evidence based procedures along with supportive values.  A number of existing public agencies and nonprofits in the County could help monitor individuals who have been released on their own recognizance, hereby reducing risk to the community.

We can only do this by electing and supporting public officials who have the core values and skills to implement such cost saving procedures.

Eugene Keeler