Review the “In Their Own Words” section on pp. 296298 of your textbook (ATTACHED). Given the epidemic of inmate overcrowding and corrections personnel understaffing in the United States, do you think that Sheriff Gary Raney’s philosophy (in paragraph 2) on what the operation of a jail should be is realistic and obtainable? Why, or why not?
ANSWER THE ABOVE DISCUSSION THEN REPLY TO MY CLASSMATES RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE? (A MINIMUM OF 125 WORDS or MORE)
CLASSMATES POST
I believe that Sheriff Raney’s philosophy is definitely realistic and obtainable. I have worked in one of the largest, and more than likely the most dangerous, jails in the southeast, the Fulton County Jail. Our jail is a 2,500 bed facility and is consistently overcrowded. On average, the inmate population is between 2,900 and 3,100. Our sheriff has done a good job with the resources provided to him; however, it is not enough. In order for Sheriff Raney’s philosophy to work, you have to have the backing of the county commissioners, the judiciary system, the staff, and the inmates.
The county commissioners must be willing to provide the funds necessary to fund rehabilitation programs, staffing, and facility maintenance. The sheriff here in Fulton County has brought programs to the jail such as GED programs, Drug Addiction programs, 2nd Chance/Re-entry programs, a Culinary Arts certification program, and a Canine Training certification program. These programs have been extremely successful. However, we still have an overcrowding issue and the jail itself is outdated. The sheriff has requested funds for a new facility, but the commissioners will not provide it. Furthermore, the judiciary system in Fulton County is very slow. We have had inmates sitting in our facility for years waiting on trial. This is unacceptable. Sheriff Raney’s philosophy is a good one, but it will take more than just the sheriff to make it work.
