A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

21 September 2015

More people means more crooks and more slammer cells

A larger jail for a larger population. Thirty years ago, when Flathead County built a 63-cell hoosegow, the county’s population numbered 57,600. Now that jail is overcrowded, holding 100 or so, and the county’s population numbers 93,000. A little math —
(93/57.6) x 63 = 102 — suggests the increased number of prisoners may be due mainly to the increase in population.

I use the phrase “may be due mainly” because when the jail was built, the prisoner population included many charged with, or convicted of, misdemeanors. Now, according Jonathan Franz’s fine story in the Flathead Beacon, almost all of the prisoners are accused or convicted felons. The jail roster is online, so you decide for yourself how serious the alleged offenses are. But it does appear that Flathead County needs a slammer with more cells.

But should those cells be built in the rambling old Walmart big box store on Highway 2 East? The county thinks so, but I have my doubts. That building wasn’t designed as a jail. Making it secure will cost a lot of money. County and city officials are always looking for ways to turn buildings no longer suitable for private businesses into government buildings. That practice keeps the buildings occupied, and probably helps those selling them to the government, but it doesn’t necessarily save money or result in a design best suited for public purposes.

I think jails should be in lonely fields, surrounded by watchtowers, razorwire fences, and floodlights brighter than the sun, not next to a highway and a forest and river (Google Earth view and KMZ file).

Save a spot in the new jail for Volkswagon executives. Mother Jones blogger Kevin Drum has the smartest commentary on this scandal. There’s no way VW’s scheme to disable emission controls on VW diesels sold in the U.S. was a rogue operation. Too much testing was required to make the scheme work. After this, VW never again can be trusted. Its conspirators belong in jail, its products should be melted down to leg irons, and never again should it be allowed to do business in the U.S.