I don’t know if you’re aware that the County Jail is once again in a “lock out” situation due to overcrowding. The Sheriff declared the official overcrowding in late July, and resorted to the mandated reduction of up to 30% of inmates. Only 14 of the inmates met the criteria for that release. Additionally, the Sheriff’s attempts to board out inmates to other counties in this overcrowding were met with equally crowded conditions at those jails, or the inmates in our Jail did not meet the criteria for being moved to other facilities.

As a result of the continued overcrowding despite those efforts, on July 31st , the Washtenaw County Jail implemented what’s referred to as the ‘lock-out’ - Section 8 of the State Overcrowding Statute, “deferring the acceptance of all offenders not charged with violent or assaultive crimes, sex offenses, escape from prison or jail, controlled substance offenses, or weapons offenses.”

It’s important that we all know that the overcrowding situation at the Jail goes on, with many hours and a lot of stress on both people and the system continuing as well. But I think it’s also important for you to know that our situation today is so much better than it has been in the past, largely due to the Criminal Justice Collaborative Council. (CJCC)

At our most recent meeting ten days ago, there was a palpable difference as this large group of stakeholders – from every part of the public safety and justice continuum – came together. This group came about as a result of a recommendation by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) when they did an assessment of our situation four years ago. As you know, since then, we’ve gone through a number of extremely difficult and potentially polarizing issues like the millage loss, new police services contracts, law suits and more.

Bob's Update" is a weekly message to Washtenaw County employees from County Administrator Bob Guenzel.  eWashtenaw publishes these columns when they are deemed timely and useful to the wider community.  Please contact Administrator Guenzel with your comments.

To its credit, the NIC’s recommendation was that the Council’s representatives should be the people at the top of their respective organizations or departments. That’s been the case with our CJCC. I guess sometimes that old adage is true, “half of life is just showing up”. There were times when the CJCC meetings seemed combative, with little success to show. But over the years this Council has become the best place, the only place, to hear all sides of these thorny issues, and to try to come to some resolution.

Under the leadership of the original Chair Judge Archie Brown, and that of the present Chair, Judge Cedric Simpson, I see issues now discussed in very frank, open but very respectful terms. And, though the situation at the Jail is still of great ongoing concern, we have finally made some headway with the plans to expand the Jail and move the 14A District Court site beginning early next spring.

Conversations. They may not sound like the earth moving, but they’re the only things that can make it happen.

Have a beautiful, productive week as the students move back to our cities!

Bob