HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1969.10.02 - 194735202 October 2, 1969 Miscellaneous Resolution
BY: PUBLIC PROTECTION & JUDICIARY COMMITTEE°
Mr. Aaron
IN RE: REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON JAIL STUDY
TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Mr, Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Miscellaneous Resolution No. 4998 adopted February 13, 1969,
the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee began a study of the conditions of the
present Oakland County Jail in hopes of alleviating the overcrowding and in response
to several articles in the press media in reference to acts of brutality at the jail.
JAIL TOUR
On Saturday, February 22, 1969, the Committee met at the jail and toured the
facilities. We found that the prisoners area is clean and orderly and that the food
services comply with the standards of the Michigan Department of Corrections as to
nutritional value. The Sheriff and his staff are to be complimented in these two areas.
The Committee was appalled at the overcrowding of prisoners in cells and
common rooms. Cells that appear to have been designed for one or two prisoners sleep
three and larger cells sleep eight. The amount of cubic space per sleeping area is most
inadequate. As many as thirty prisoners are housed for long hours in the day rooms where
showers are contained. The space per prisoner in the day rooms is most inadequate.
When the prisoners are confined in the day rooms, little effort is made for providing any
sort of recreational activity.
It is the opinion of this Committee that the combination of crowding of
prisoners into a small area plus lack of any formal program of prisoner activity is poor
prison policy, a waste of opportunity for constructive or rehabilitation work and creates
situations that could encourage brutality and perversion among prisoners.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
On March 11, 1969, the Committee held hearings and the following persons
appeared:
1. Robert Russell, Michigan Department of Corrections
2. Nedwin L. Smokier and Ernest Mazey, American Civil Liberties Union.
Mr. Russell indicated that the present jail no longer complies with State
standards and is woefully lacking in proper facilities, security measures and in most ways
is inadequate for proper and humane care of the prisoners. He was aware that the new
jail complex would correct these situations. He did recommend that over-staffing the
jail guards to provide more intensive surveillance of prisoners would tend to prevent acts
of brutality and perversion. This Committee is pleased to note that Mr. Russell's
recommendation was adopted by the Personnel Practices Committee and additional guards
have been provided.
Messrs. Smokier and Mazey purported to the Committee various instances of
brutality committed upon prisoners and complaints of lack of proper medical attention
for prisoners as contained in the files of the American Civil Liberties Union. Subsequently,
rion April 10, 1969, Mr. Smokier furnished your Chairman with the following recommendatio ,5
in which your Committee concurs:
1. Establishment of a library of current magazines and other material;
2. A program of calisthenics within the confines of the present prison;
3. A policy of physical examination of all prisoners upon entry to
jail to prevent communicable diseases.
Mr. Smokier further recommended that outdoor physical activity be granted to
the prisoners on a rotating basis. This Committee feels that the recommendation, while
of great merit, is not feasible due to the location of the present jail and the fact that
additional guards and facilities would be required at the present time to implement the
suggestion.
OVERCROWDING OF JAIL - RECOMMENDATION
The Committee feels that the existing problems at the jail cannot be solved in
any humane fashion unless the jail population is reduced substantially. We have been
informed that the County has been discussing with the City of Pontiac, in hopes of
reaching an agreement, to use the City's existing jail facilities. The Committee
recommends that immediate agreement be reached with the City of Pontiac and that
twenty-five (25) prisoners be transferred to the Pontiac jail; that being the capacity of
the Pontiac jail.
This Committee further recommends that the Sheriff establish a policy of
requiring all jurisdictions in Oakland County having jail facilities to house their own
ordinance violators before and after conviction.
Thirdly, the Committee recommends that the Sheriff seek contractual arrange-
ments with the State of Michigan or other authorities having penal or hospital institutions
for housing of inmates with known sexual deviations so that said inmates may be
effectively segregated from the general inmates. Similar arrangements should be secured
for persons being held for crimes of violence. If this be accomplished, the risk of sexual
violence or brutality in the jail would be substantially lessened.
PROCEDURE AND OPERATION OF JAIL - RECOMMENDATION
The Committee believes immediate effort must be made in the areas of humane
care of prisoners, rehabilitation and individual dignity. Modern prison philosophy is
one of rehabilitation and not of punishment. This concept is lacking at the jail.
Desirable standards are set forth in the studies made by the National Crime and Delinquency
Commission and by the Citizens Research Council in their study of the Wayne County Jail.
The Committee recommends that the following programs be put into immediate
effect:
1. Comprehensive physical examination of all prisoners entering;
2. A staff of psychiatric social workers be provided for the mental care and
evaluation of prisoners;
3. A library of current magazines and books be provided;
4. A program of calisthenics be established;
5. Movies be shown on a regular and frequent basis;
6. Television be provided;
7. Educational and work training programs be initiated;
8. Audio system be installed throughout cell areas of the existing jail.
FUTURE PLANNING - RECOMMENDATION
The Committee is cognizant that the traditional role of the Sheriff as custodian
of prisoners does not meet the demands of society today. The theory of confinement
for violation of our penal codes is not based upon punishment, but upon the hopeful
expectation that the person can be rehabilitated and returned to society as a useful and
contributing member. In order to achieve this end, it is necessary that a penologist or
professional tail administrator be retained to operate the jail and to initiate programs
for the rehabilitation and education of the inmates. The design of the new jail
facilities offers the County an excellent opportunity to create new programs for the
benefit of the inmates and for society at large.
MR. CHAIRMAN, on behalf of the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee,
I move that the foregoing report and the recommendations contained therein be adopted.
PUBLIC PROTECTION & JUOICIARY COMMITTEE
Dennis M. Aaron, Chairman
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Alexander C. Perinoff
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#5202
Moved by Aaron supported by Gabler the report be adopted.
Discussion followed.
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the resolution was adopted.
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
(ss
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
1, Lynn D. Allen-, Clerk of the County of Oakland and
having a seal, do hereby certify that_l have compared the annexed copy of
Resolution #5202 adopted at the October 2, 1969 meeting of the
e*•••• ............. ..... •0••• ............
Oakland County Board of Supervisors
with the original record thereof now remaining in my
office, and that it is a true and correct transcript
therefrom, and of the whole thereof.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
, . affixed the seal of said County at Pontiac Mich.
this 2nd day of October 69 19.
Lynn D. Allen
Clerk
By Deputy Clerk