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June 26, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 23, 2004 Talent jail could be reopened By Damian Mann For the Tidings Citing a crisis in the justice system, the Jackson County Budget Committee recommended Thursday to reopen the Talent jail for $2.6 million and add almost $500,000 to increase staff at the District Attorney's Office. The committee, which is putting together the $55 million general fund budget for the county for 2004-05, also agreed to continue the $18,200 it provides to keep the sobering unit open and to give the Sheriff's Office almost $60,000 for training and equipment. The sobering unit was scheduled to close April 30. "People need to feel they can walk the streets," said Budget Committee Chairman Dick Rudisile. "My granddaughters need to feel they're not going to be raped by some idiot out in the county." County Commissioner Dave Gilmour said, "There is a crisis right now. We have people in jail who received a sentence of 180 days who were only serving 11." The committee last year was looking for programs to cut because of a $3.4 million shortfall and because it wanted to build up a rainy day fund in case federal timber receipts ran out in 2007. This year, it hopes to take money out of the proposed $10.7 million rainy day fund to pay for the Talent jail and increase staff in the District Attorney's Office. The budget committee said a portion of the pending $8.9 million sale of land to Wal-Mart for a Supercenter would be used to boost the fund. The sobering unit and the Sheriff's Department's training and materials would be paid by other contingency funds. The 85-bed Talent jail was closed last May, partially because of a loss of state money. It could reopen within the next six months. Budget committee members worried the county couldn't continue to keep the jail open because of future funding uncertainty. Committee member Tim Alford said, "I'm afraid to open this today and tomorrow we can't afford it." However, Rudisile and County Commissioner Sue Kupillas both expressed optimism about the future of federal timber receipts, which make up $22 million annually of the county's overall budget. "I'm feeling very positive about it," said Kupillas. The county previously had been planning to build up $16 million for a rainy day fund by the year 2007. Kupillas said that if the county finds itself in another budget predicament, "We could close (the Talent jail) again." Before the jail reopens, the budget committee wants the county to look into other options, including what it would cost to rent jail beds from other counties. Shayne Maxwell and other committee members said more thought should be given to prevention rather than incarceration. Gilmour said the county really needs to look at funding alcohol and drug programs in light of state budget cuts. Rudisile agreed that more could be done to prevent crime but said, "There is a line of thought that a lot of these people would leave the county if we cracked down on them." The budget committee will recommend boosting the district attorney's budget to add three deputy district attorneys, two legal assistants and computers and office equipment. This will help alleviate a backlog with the grand jury in prosecuting felony crimes. The committee also recommends $60,000 for the Sheriff's Department to pay for new bullet-proof vests, target training, riot gear and other equipment. County Commissioner Jack Walker said the budget increases were necessary because "we are trying to get tough on crime here in Jackson County." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams