Community Corrections

Author	Message
Martin Saffer Mar 27, 2008 11:29 am	Community Corrections The Commission will consider a grant application for a Community Corrections program in the County. It would have a day reporting center and provide for counseling, education, employment etc. Plus it would be an alternative to jail and save the County money. What do you think?
freeholder Mar 27, 2008 11:41 pm	Re: Community Corrections I wish you well in getting such a grant.To educate ,counsel,help with employment,reduce incarceration,save money are all worthwhile efforts for the county government.
Linda gibb Mar 28, 2008 1:34 am	Re: Community Corrections CC Reta Griffith is an excellent grant writer & has already brought lots of grant mony to PC
Martin Saffer Mar 28, 2008 8:47 am	Re: Community Corrections Reta has expressed reservation on the community corrections issue.....
Martin Saffer Apr 2, 2008 8:30 am	Re: Community Corrections Yesterday the Commission voted unanimously to apply for a $100,000 grant with $10,000 matching funds from the Commission. With the regional jail bill at $30,000 per month it seems that a Community Corrections program should be tried. I/m pleased both Commissioners were bold enough to try this program grant.
Martin Saffer Apr 3, 2008 8:19 am	Re: Community Corrections I note that some people feel that there is a "revolving door" if you don't put people in jail and keep 'em there and that community corrections is somehow "soft on crime". There is some evidence that the reverse is true. Putting people in jail causes them to become "institutionalized" and affords them little help to overcome the basic reasons that led them to jail: drug addiction, alcohol abuse, emotional immaturity, lack of education, inadequate job skills etc. These causes of failure can be dealt with, hopefully, in a well run community corrections program that is actually cheaper at the end of the day than jail. Provide educational opportunity, counseling for addiction and life skills, put folks of a job tract and then see if that person "returns to criminal behavior". In my many years as a criminal defense lawyer I have found that most "crimes" result for people who have trouble putting one foot in front of another. People who lack skills and who are crippled by addictions.
Jeremy Bauserman Apr 16, 2008 5:26 am	Re: Community Corrections With regional jail costs at about $1,000 a day for the county, I do like the concept of the program. The Commission must find a way to establish a more cordial working relationship with the Sheriff for it to work though.
Martin Saffer Apr 16, 2008 8:11 am	Re: Community Corrections Cordiality depends on professionalism and not taking things personally. I've noticed that this is often difficult and causes people to lose issues in the discussions. I too think the regional jail is a costly problem that begs a solution which can only happen if all cooperate.
screwed Jan 31, 2009 4:21 am	Re: Community Corrections This program is really a good idea, but I just wish they would get there testing policy up to standards. this program works even though there is a 76 percent failure rate. I just wish it works out. It probably will once the bugs are worked out
Martin Saffer Jan 31, 2009 6:26 am	Re: Community Corrections The local advisory board has addressed this problem and now testing will be fedex routed for testing. Plus, the Board is advising a zero tolerance for any drugs....if a person is on community corrections, no drugs period.
Martin Saffer Feb 13, 2009 7:56 am	Re: Community Corrections The Advisory Board met yesterday and unanimously voted to ask the County Commission to dissolve its relationship with Mercer County and to seek alliance with another regional day report center. It was the feeling of those present that local concerns were not being met by Mercer County.
normanalderman Feb 13, 2009 12:41 pm	Re: Community Corrections Excellent decision. Glad to see the local board involved!!!!
Martin Saffer Feb 27, 2009 10:06 am	Re: Community Corrections The County Commission voted today to end its relationship with Mercer County for the Day Report Center and to join with Randolph County.
Linda gibb Mar 1, 2009 4:07 am	Re: Community Corrections Does Randolph County offer all the same programs? What about the folks already on the current program? Will they have to start all over?
Martin Saffer Mar 1, 2009 6:46 am	Re: Community Corrections The program will be the same but with better leadership. Mercer County provided little hands-on help and was really too far away to be up here showing our people "the ropes". Yes, the clients will stay and their earned time will remain. The Commission is hopeful that the program will be better and stronger with Randolph County.
Citizen Mar 23, 2009 11:58 am	Re: Community Corrections By ending the relationship with Mercer County, how will this effect the Drug Court program that Judge Pomponio spoke about in the paper?
Citizen Mar 27, 2009 7:02 pm	Re: Community Corrections Interesting rumor I heard today. Word has been going around that Mr. Saffer cut ties with Mercer County because they would not hire who he wanted them to. Any truth to this Mr. Saffer?
Martin Saffer Mar 28, 2009 6:53 am	Re: Community Corrections First, all actions taken concerning the community corrections program are done by vote of the Commission; not individuals. Mercer County did not fit well with our goals for the program and, frankly, did not deliver on programs, promises made to us and participation. Personnel considerations were not part of any deliberations.
Jeremy Bauserman Mar 28, 2009 8:26 am	Re: Community Corrections Community Corrections going private. From the Inter Mountain. http://theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/517140.html?nav=5014
Martin Saffer Mar 28, 2009 11:15 am	Re: Community Corrections I think that "privatizing" is in the wind state wide for community corrections. I wonder how soon all grants will dry up. It will be up to us and Randolph County to be very creative in our operations so that we can afford this program to save money in regional jail fees and to also provide a meaningful program that actually works to help those in it.
Citizen Mar 31, 2009 9:24 am	Re: Community Corrections There are many, many people in this community that see through you and know what your real agendas are. At first many of us thought that you were elected and would help out this county, boy were we wrong, and more and more of us are seeing that now.
JIm Mar 31, 2009 10:11 am	Re: Community Corrections Marty While we different on several issues, I think you are doing a good job!
Martin Saffer Mar 31, 2009 10:40 am	Modified Apr 1, 2009 @ 11:38 am Re: Community Corrections To Citizen and other anonymous users: Please state your specific concerns. I will be happy to address specific concerns and issues. Also, I think it is always helpful if we support our comments with real names so that we can discuss issues face to face, so to speak, and not have to deal with anonymous statements. We are only anonymous in the election booth. When we are debating and discussing issues it is best, in my opinion, to put a name behind the words. That way we can claim ownership of our ideas and statements. But I will still discuss ideas and concerns even without a name attached to them.

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