Keep Bailing

According to the Merced County Star, last week Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin suggested closing the main jail in order to help meet county budget cuts. Right now, the county is facing a $20 million budget crisis. To up the ante, Pazin also proposed the early release of 150-200 inmates and laying off 20 correctional officers and support staff at the jail.

Merced County Executive Officer Larry Combs requested that all department heads come up with a proposal with an aim at 20% budget cuts to help with the county’s shortfall. This will reduce the sheriff’s $40 million budget by $8 million. Pazin said that this “forces” him to make a proposal that he neither embraces nor advocates. If the jail is not closed, the impact to the department could be much worse. “If we were to literally accept what the third floor wanted through the (CEO’s) office, $8 million dollars would have been 80 persons. And that would have just decimated this sheriff’s office,” Pazin said.

Pazin says the department has already added almost $2 million to the county’s general fund, with state dollars gained through sources like the In Custody Drug Treatment Program.

The 90-day state-funded program at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility works to turn inmates with substance abuse problems into productive citizens.

Supervisor Deidre Kelsey spoke with Pazin about his proposal. She feels concern because many inmates, when released, will re-offend and return to jail.

She hopes that GPS and other tracking will help monitor non-violent offenders if early release does happen. “I don’t think it’s the Board of Supervisors’ intent to release dangerous criminals onto the street and turn the jail into a revolving door,” Kelsey said.