Strain said that his jail is already in violation of federal rules governing the number of prisoners in a jail and that it has become a dangerous situation for the parish.
In a June 17 letter he sent to Parish President Kevin Davis and the entire Parish Council, Strain said the parish has taken away $2 million in funds that he needs to keep the jail open.
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Strain said he is “appealing” to parish officials to help him come up with a solution to the overcrowding problem. He said that he has already cut expenses, and even restructured the number of beds per square foot of space to add more beds, but he said it has not done any good.
“We are at our absolute maximum legal capacity in the jail,” Strain said.
He said that despite a 1/2-cent tax for the jail, the parish has taken $2 million from that fund, much to Strain’s frustration.
However, parish spokesman Suzanne Parsons Stymiest said the parish did not take anything away, but had to cut the parish budget because of decreasing sales tax revenue.
“Our official position is that there is no more money,” Stymiest said.
She said of the parish’s $95 million budget, $87.3 million is already dedicated to public works, the courts, utilities and other expenses, including the jail, which gets $9.7 million. That leaves the parish $10.7 million in the general fund to run the government.
“The money just isn’t there,” Stymiest said.
Strain said that besides shutting down parts of the jail and sending prisoners elsewhere, he suggests the jail not take in DOC prisoners anymore. He said to lower the number of DOC inmates to a “manageable” 500 would cost about $2 million, which could be made up through “an infusion of revenue designed to offset the budget imbalance.”
He said it costs a lot of money to house prisoners in a clean and safe environment. He said it costs his office $2 million a year for medical services, and another $1 million to feed the prisoners.
But he said he does not want to raise taxes or call for a bond issue. He thinks that if he and parish officials sit down they can come up with a solution.
“This is getting to be a serious problem and is it a priority issue,” the sheriff said.
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Comments
Devils Advocate wrote on Jul 20, 2009 1:20 PM:
I understand your position on the jail releasing people and REFUSING arrestee’s brought to jail.
I am aware of one incident when the police brought an individual to jail for continually breaking into the hospital and begging for medication and being forced to leave. Police bring him to jail and the jail outright refused to accept him. State law requires the inmate to be accepted unconditionally. "
florida resident wrote on Jul 19, 2009 12:05 PM:
Devils Advocate wrote on Jul 14, 2009 4:36 PM:
I agree with Jack expanding his fleet of vehicles and equipment. Only to say that he should be living so lavishly and then asking for money in return because he cant pay the bills.
I say no to Jacks request for money. He can find it else where. He sure did a good job on forcing the Mayor of Covington to find money for her Police Officers. "
Devils Advocate wrote on Jul 14, 2009 2:20 PM:
If you do the math it is normally 100 inmates to 1 officer. The officers don’t have time to hear about ones headache and so on. You do the crime you do the time.
Their conditions could be better at times, but as a whole they make them worse. Destroying their bedding, clothing, and other personal items they are allowed to have. "
Seafight wrote on Jul 14, 2009 1:58 PM:
Free Speech wrote on Jul 14, 2009 1:52 PM:
DMS wrote on Jul 14, 2009 12:08 PM:
Fed Up 2 wrote on Jul 13, 2009 11:26 PM:
some one who knows wrote on Jul 13, 2009 4:41 PM:
mardi wrote on Jul 13, 2009 9:13 AM:
meanjoegreen wrote on Jul 12, 2009 6:16 PM:
t wrote on Jul 12, 2009 4:05 AM:
No business of yours wrote on Jul 11, 2009 9:17 PM:
Evan wrote on Jul 11, 2009 8:00 PM:
The three richest American politicians- the only 3 worth over a billion dollars- are all republican. Party has nothing to do with wealth, your baseless assumptions are lame.
About the jail, throwing guys in jail for possession of marijuana is dumb. I don't smoke marijuana or condone the behavior, but seriously, there is no reason why marijuana should be illegal. Its trafficking breeds crime. All the snooty old ladies in Mandeville and Covington drinking their wine pose a bigger threat to society driving their oversized SUVs with a hard buzz on wine! Get outta here. "
Man of God wrote on Jul 11, 2009 3:05 PM:
Rosemary Willis wrote on Jul 11, 2009 9:06 AM:
Fed Up wrote on Jul 11, 2009 6:05 AM:
Judd wrote on Jul 10, 2009 4:55 PM:
Free Speech wrote on Jul 10, 2009 12:49 PM:
Rhonda wrote on Jul 10, 2009 12:47 PM:
Mrs. K wrote on Jul 10, 2009 11:44 AM:
JIMMY wrote on Jul 10, 2009 11:20 AM:
patrica wrote on Jul 9, 2009 11:35 PM:
The gecko wrote on Jul 9, 2009 5:56 PM:
dirt on my window wrote on Jul 9, 2009 2:39 PM:
or did feama money run out and yall just trying to make a money ouota instead of searving and protecting home owners and tax payers !!! seams like money is yall's agenda not we the people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
wrote on Jul 9, 2009 1:32 PM:
Devils Advocate wrote on Jul 9, 2009 12:47 PM:
2. There is no reason that he can’t find the money in his budget. He was sure fast to jump on Mayor Candace Watkins when she needed the money. She was forced to find it. BooBoo, maybe that $40,000 Suburban would be a great place to start. Watkins drives an 8yr old Dodge.
3. Booboo change your leaders at 6000. Not the LTs, SGT, or lower. Start with the criminals in the front office (Captains). "
curious07 wrote on Jul 8, 2009 7:30 PM:
SlidellDude wrote on Jul 8, 2009 4:12 PM:
Robyn wrote on Jul 8, 2009 3:52 PM:
Concerned citized wrote on Jul 8, 2009 2:36 PM:
patricia wrote on Jul 8, 2009 12:52 PM:
Concerned citizen wrote on Jul 8, 2009 10:12 AM:
Horsefly wrote on Jul 8, 2009 10:06 AM:
Legalizing pot is a win win situation. "
Dont Worry About My Name wrote on Jul 8, 2009 9:07 AM: