Jail Expansion Long Past Due

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  • January 10, 1999
  • Bristol Herald Courier

Jail Expansion Long Past Due

Overcrowding is worsening in the Sullivan County Jail, for both male and female prisoners. Continuing overloads caused by state prisoners are aggravating the problem. The sheriff and county commissioners say they don’t see how this can go on.

The year is 1999, right?

Wrong. It was 1993. Nothing’s changed.

“We’re sitting on a powder keg” County Commissioner Ralph Harr told fellow Building Committee members last week. He warned the commissioners of possible lawsuits because of overcrowding and even of potential inmate uprisings.

Harr is exactly right. And the danger is nothing new. The time to do something is now.

In November, the Building Committee approved $5 million in bonds to expand the Sullivan County Jail, as well as another $3 million, all or part of which could help build a jail addition.

The money is there. The political will, certainly among commissioners who have looked most closely at the need, is there. And now is the time.

Overcrowding is worsening in the Sullivan County Jail, for both male and female prisoners. Continuing overloads caused by state prisoners are aggravating the problem. The sheriff and county commissioners say they don’t see how this can go on. The year is 1999, right? Wrong. It was 1993. Nothing's changed. “We're sitting on a powder keg” County Commissioner Ralph Harr told fellow Building Committee members last week. He warned the commissioners of possible lawsuits because of overcrowding and even of potential inmate uprisings. Harr is exactly right. And the danger is nothing new. The time to do something is now. In November, the Building Committee approved $5 million in bonds to expand the Sullivan County Jail, as well as another $3 million, all or part of which could help build a jail addition. The money is there. The political will, certainly among commissioners who have looked most closely at the need, is there. And now is the time.
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