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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 24, 2006 Meeting to discuss justice system By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune The public can learn more about Jackson County’s criminal justice system this week and weigh in on its operation. An assessment of the county’s jail, courts, law enforcement, parole and probation and other entities will be the topic of a community meeting Thursday. Consultants with the National Institute of Corrections will present their findings, concluding a three-day tour of the county. Arriving today, consultants for NIC — a division of the U.S. Department of Justice — will analyze the relationship between the county jail and the local justice system. They aim to help government officials understand why the inmate population has increased rapidly over the past few years, said Danny Jordan, director of Jackson County Community Justice. Opened in 1981, the county jail houses approximately 230 inmates daily. Of Oregon’s 36 counties, only three have fewer jail beds per population than Jackson, according to the Oregon Jail Managers Association. Each of those counties booked between 1,400 and 3,800 inmates in 2004 compared with more than 11,000 at the Jackson County Jail, the jail managers association reported. NIC consultants will develop and present methods for managing the jail population, Jordan said. They will seek feedback from local residents about how the county should address jail and justice issues at Thursday’s meeting from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Community Justice offices on Medford’s West Main Street. Advertisement "We really want ... to use this as a starting point for doing some long-term planning," Jordan said. The evaluation comes at no cost to the county, Jordan said. In addition to state, local and federal government officials, consultants plan to meet with mental health professionals, medical personnel, drug treatment providers and clergy, Jordan said. The NIC’s lead consultant, Billy Wasson, was founding director of the Marion County Department of Corrections and a former Oregon jail inspector. If you go What: National Institute of Corrections community meeting. When: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Where: Jackson County Community Justice, 1101 W. Main St., Medford. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement