January 17, 2006

Dear Editor:

On January 12th, Victoria Cherrie wrote about the problem of overcrowding in Charlotte regional jails. The members of the Association of Private Correctional and Treatment Organizations (APCTO) urge the consideration of public-private correctional partnerships as a potential solution to this problem.

Such partnerships:

• Construct jail beds faster, sometimes in as little as 12-15 months; these are approximately 10-25% less costly than public correctional services;
• Have operating costs that range from 6% to 12% lower than public correctional services;
• Provide a new source of capital funds so that state, county, and local resources can be dedicated to schools and other public needs;
• Provide offender services that are every bit as good as, or in some cases better than, those provided by government operation; and
• Private operators are taxpayers of the community in which they operate, rather than being a complete drain on the community's budget.

Many communities across the country make use of public-private correctional partnerships to provide jail services. The taxpayers of the Charlotte region can benefit from these partnerships, too.

Sincerely,
 

 
Michael T. LoBue, CAE
Executive Director

January 12, 2006

Unlike Cabarrus County, most places with jail overcrowding problems in the Charlotte region have found solutions at the state's request.

Inmates sued over poor jail conditions in Catawba, Mecklenburg, Union and Lincoln counties, prompting officials to act.

The state also has been more aggressive on overcrowding since John Harkins took over as chief jail inspector about a year ago, according to state officials.

But it's a constant struggle to keep up, area jail officials said.

For example, Mecklenburg County built a second jail to ease overcrowding, but its population already has neared capacity several times. No expansion is in the works, said Julia Rush, a sheriff's office spokeswoman.

Using inmate labor, Iredell County refurbished an old prison to ease crowding. But the annex is only a quick fix. Officers have to bus inmates to and from court, which is a security concern, said Lt. Bert Connelly, Iredell county's jail administrator.

Catawba Sheriff David Huffman has worked for years to address overcrowding in his jail using an electronic house arrest program. He also cut a deal with Burke County to share the cost and responsibility for a detention center that provides more beds.

Huffman's jail is still overcrowded, but plans are moving ahead for an $18 million new one.

With Cabarrus County's project still in flux, Cabarrus County Sheriff Brad Riley and others worry about the threat of suits from inmates, whose complaints have "skyrocketed" in the past year, said Donald Anthony, the jail supervisor.

"You have to be responsible," Huffman said. "Don't sit around and wait to be sued."