The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
City impacted by jail overcrowding
Police have arrested 124 offenders, whom have all been released
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: November 30, 2006
In the midst of continuing controversy between the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners and Washtenaw County Sheriff Dan Minzey, county citizens are paying the price in increased crime.
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This is the message of Ypsilanti Police Chief Matt Harshberger who met with about 40 concerned Ypsilanti residents last week to inform them of the situation.
Harshberger outlined a sharp increase in property crimes occurring within the city this fall. Autos, sheds, garages and homes have all been invaded. Ypsilanti Police have also dealt with an increase in stolen cars and car parts. The downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods have borne the brunt of this crime wave.
Harsh-berger said Michigan Prisoner Re-entry Initiative (MPRI) studies show 62 percent of releases from Michigan prisons come back to the city of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township and Superior Township. Often, these people are homeless because either their families have moved or the families don't want the offender back.
Also, the Michigan Department of Corrections releases prisoners to motels on E. Michigan Avenue. These released prisoners, according to Harshberger, are set up to fail.
MPRI tries to send the released prisoners to a structured environment and, Harshberger noted, "Ypsilanti has the only true downtown in the area. When they end up in Ypsilanti with no way of supporting themselves, stealing becomes their source of income."
Harshberger outlined the decision by the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners to halt the boarding of prisoners at other jails in the state. This resulted in the Washtenaw County Jail being put in lockdown mode by Sheriff Dan Minzey when the jail population exceeded the 332-bed limit. In lockdown mode, the jail admits violent offenders only.
Harshberger said between September 28, when the boarding out was ended, and November 20, Ypsilanti Police had arrested 124 people who were then released back on the street because of the jail situation. He said those 124 people accounted for 198 crimes. He also said the department had made arrangements with the Lenawee County Jail to take parole violators.
Harshberger said the members of the Washtenaw Criminal Justice Association, which is made up of law enforcement officials from across the county, including Prosecutor Brian Mackie, have agreed there is a problem and action is needed.
Harshberger informed the crowd that boarding-out prisoners cost the county $40 a day, compared to the $80 a day it cost to keep them in the local jail. In addition, the other jails were willing to come to Washtenaw County to pick up and deliver the prisoners.
Yet, when the county commissioners were presented with a bill for nine months worth of boarding-out that came to $700,000, they voted to end the boarding out practice. This led to the current crisis.
Another factor in the jail overcrowding is Sheriff Minzey's refusal to reduce sentences as required by Section 7 of the Jail Overcrowding Act. Sheriffs can reduce a prisoner's sentence by as much as 30 percent.
Present at the meeting were Washtenaw County Commissioner Ronnie Peterson and commissioner-elect Ken Schwartz. Peterson informed the gathering the jail currently holds 14 persons charged with murder, who are awaiting trial. He said 70 percent of the jail population has not yet been tried.
Many of the cases involve domestic violence and several inmates are serving sentences for second or third degree criminal sexual conduct. He said he understands Minzey's problem, as it is difficult to find people in the current jail population who could be released safely.
Peterson said the commissioners moved the resolution to stop boarding-out very quickly, without having complete information. "We had no communication from the law enforcement community before the resolution was passed."
Peterson believed the board would reassess the situation again in January, when the new commissioners would be seated. At that time, he said, the board would also revisit social services and the delivery of those services.
Schwartz said it was clear the county's communities have an emergency that is not being addressed. He said long-term planning was necessary but not at the expense of a short-term fix.
Several members of the audience voiced concerns and said something needs to be done about the jail overcrowding immediately. Peterson agreed, but said the commissioners only meet once in December and the issue was not on the agenda. He suggested citizens write or email the commissioners, demanding the issue be readdressed at the December 6 Board of Commissioners meeting.
Contact information for the commissioners may be found at www.ewashtenaw.org, or by calling 734-222-6850 and asking for contact information. Emails to the entire board of commissioners may be address to l-boc@listserver.ewashtenaw.org.
Kathleen Conat is a long-time Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for the Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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