Consensus Questions for the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad

LOCK THEM IN OR HELP THEM OUT: A LOCAL STUDY OF INCARCERATION AND ITS ALTERNATIVES

The consensus questions follow the consensus statement. The League arrived at consensus in December and the consensus statement was published in full in the February Voter Impact.

FACILITY NEEDS, LOCATION AND FINANCING

The Guilford County facilities for incarceration including the High Point Jail, the Greensboro Jail, and the Prison farm are inadequate for the current need for secure space for those awaiting trial, those who are sentenced to the local jails or farm, and for the deputies and other staff who work in the jail.   

Space needed for those awaiting trial, sentenced to the local jails or farm, or working in the jail should be obtained by renovating the current jail in Greensboro and building a new jail sited as near as possible to the Guilford County Courthouse in Greensboro

 Additional space should be adequately and fairly funded by a combination of sources including Guilford County Annual Budget and bonds.  Bonds are preferable to certificates of participation.

 The new and renovated Guilford County jails should be large enough for anticipated need ten years or more after completion.  The “extra space” should be designed to be flexible so that it could be used for drug and mental health treatment for those in jail and for housing federal prisoners. 

SPACE NEEDS

 The jail needs secure, safe and up-to-standard cells.  The goal is to have one person to a cell.

 The Guilford County jails should contain space for classes, counseling, medical care, and exercise for those who are incarcerated. 

 Separate meeting rooms should be provided for visitors to the jails including family members and attorneys. There should be an appropriate number of rooms with adequate space and furniture.  The rooms for attorneys and for family members should be separate and both should provide some privacy.

 Pre-trial inmates and those serving sentences should be separated in the jail.  The jail should be safe and humane for all those waiting trial or serving sentences. Professionals should screen inmates to determine their problems and needs.

 There should be separate and unique areas within the jail for those inmates who are in danger of harming themselves or others.  They should be treated humanely and professionally by staff members with appropriate training.

PROGRAMS IN THE JAIL

Substance abuse, mental and medical treatment should be available in the Guilford County jails and prison farm and other treatment programs should be available as necessary.

 Basic education and skill building programs  should be available, and exercise should be provided with facilities built into the new and renovated jail space.

 Volunteers can be used if the facility is safe. Those who teach skills should be properly screened and trained.

 Basic skills and basic health care should be free to all inmates. No one should be denied training because of lack of money to pay fees. Fees charged should be on a sliding scale.

ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION

 Alternative programs to incarceration before and after sentencing should be enlarged to accommodate more of those currently awaiting trial and those sentenced to jail. Alternative programs should be well designed, appropriate and evaluated.

Judges should have guidelines and an approved list of alternative programs when sentencing someone to an alternative to incarceration.

Alternative programs should meet certain criteria of success.  The criteria should be set by a commission or committee consisting of judges, professionals, attorneys and people who have been through the alternative programs. The committees should be appointed by the Chief Judge of Superior Court.  A portion of public money budgeted for incarceration facilities and staff should be used to evaluate alterative programs.

 Alternative sentencing should be financed by a variety of sources including state funds, county funds, private grants, participant fees and donations.