In the recently released Mono County Grand Jury Report, jurors made some recommendations for the jail, and they interviewed Sheriff Rick Scholl.
The report says the three things most needed by the jail are a third cook, separation of the dispatch area from the control room and an update of electronic consoles in the control room. The report says that the sergeant they talked to did not think that separation of dispatch and the control room would happen any time soon.
The control area can electronically communicate between law enforcement agencies, jail door controls, and electrical systems. The report said staffing is an issue to cover these tasks and the dispatch. The report also noted that the electronic control system is aging and will eventually need to be replaced. The dispatch computer system, according to the report, is “old and would cost approximately $225,000 to $250,000 to replace.”
In an interview with Sheriff Rick Scholl the Jury determined that he is staying within his budget with some downsizing and position elimination going on. The Jury Report said that the Court has started conducting video arraignments in the Mammoth Lakes court building with arraignments still conducted at the Bridgeport Courthouse weekly.
On the issue of the State requiring that more prisoners remain in County Jail, the report revealed no major, immediate problem. However, according to the Jury, the State formula for reimbursement for prisoners is “well below the average daily inmate cost.” They said Sheriff Scholl is working with a state group of Sheriffs to stay on top of the issue.
The Jury Report quoted Sheriff Scholl as saying that “people may have to start changing their mindset about how we incarcerate people and be less aggressive about immediately incarcerating people when a citation might suffice.” Scholl said this is being done in some states. The Sheriff said that even though the Governor has guaranteed funding for county jails, the November tax measure will make that happen.
On the issue of staffing, the Sheriff is quoted as saying that there is a constant turnover and the salaries are relatively low. The report says things “always appear to be on the ragged edge.”
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Face it.
Bridgeport is a dying and inaccessible community that contributes next to nothing in the way of taxes for the County.
Where are our visionaries?
Why are the supervisors doing nothing about this obvious problem?
Bill Reid is no longer around. What are they waiting for?
Sinking money into the jail in Bridgeport is financially unsustainable. It is pointless and very bad value for taxpayers’ money.’
‘Warehousing’ prisoners fails to turn them away from a life of crime and is not the best way of dealing with drug addicts who might go straight if their habits were dealt with.
Anyone who visits a prison soon realizes the prevailing atmosphere is one of stupefying boredom on the part of inmates.
I would like to see prisons where there is a working environment, where people get into the habits of the rest of the population.
Encouraging offenders to work while in prison should be the goal.
Community punishments – which are likely to increase in number – will become more like hard work.
Jails should be more punitive, effective and organized. Unpaid work should require offenders to work at a proper pace in a disciplined manner rather than youths just hanging around doing odd bits tidying up derelict sites.
All you need is a solid dollars and sense report, ie. cost breakdowns, cost of transporting the criminals, attorneys, maintenance, repairs on an antiquated building, upkeep, etc, and people in power positions who aren’t afraid to look Bridgeport in the eye and say, “Don’t take it personally, Bridgeport – it’s only business” (not to mention the much-needed construction jobs that will put people back to work)
Involve The People and put it to a vote.
Why does tiny Bridgeport wield so much power? How much does Bridgeport generate in taxpayer dollars?
New Jail…..ain’t gonna happen in our lifetime……..
Commuting an hour to Bridgeport (on a good day) is ridiculous and a senseless drain on we taxpayers.
Time to move forward for the good of the County.
It’s time to think about building new jail facilities closer to where most of the county lives – the Mammoth Lakes area.
It’s a dollars and sense thing.
Mr. New Jail- so you want to close the current jail or make room for more of our neighbors?
“The Jury Report quoted Sheriff Scholl as saying that “people may have to start changing their mindset about how we incarcerate people and be less aggressive about immediately incarcerating people when a citation might suffice.”
such as MMJ charges.
Maybe there wouldn’t be a “constant turnover” in the Sheriff’s Dept. if the employees were treated with a little more respect instead of having to endure a hostile work environment on a daily basis.
I can’t believe I just heard a shriff say locking them up and throwing away the key isn’t working. Maybe there’s hope for are kids after all. Either that ,or he’s worried about his pension.
Sometimes I think that maybe I am too harsh when it comes to some of these inane comments. Did you read the article? You folks are lucky to retain anyone with the low salaries and benefits being paid in the County. No wonder the turnover rate is continous. You get what you pay for.
Trouble, public pensions may be out of control – but give the guy a little credit will ya? Maybe he really gets it for the right reasons. It’s so hard not to become overly cynical these days about government, God knows, but I doubt Scholl had his pension in mind on this one. The piggishness of public unions is a pity, when it causes sincere citizens such as you (and me) to too easily suspect the motives of our public servants, most of whom in the rank and file are decent and dedicated. Something for us all to work on, moi aussi.
Tourbillon- i never should have made that remark about pensions. I would love to see less people put into our legal system and less desire from our local legal system to put them there. The police are just a part of our broken system. I for one would like to see our young adults get a second chance when they screw up. Like maybe the military or peace corp. Or get a degree and clear your record.
But I do regret my smart ass comment on pensions. I wish every one had a good one.
Yeah I hear ya Trouble … The system has no room for anything anymore other than black and white, Cops in schools and treating kids as criminals is not right .. kids getting treated as adults, for the most part is not right either in more ways than pertains to the law .. now days. but that is what is happening.
Each kid, each case is different, most of the time .. the problem can be solved without law enforcement’s involvement. Extenuating cases need to be dealt with accordingly, and if they can’t be dealt with in a reasonable manner, then bring in the cops, sometimes just having the cops brought in without any arresting actions can be a what is needed to turn them around.
But we do not get that opportunity now, it is automatic, the system dictates that the law is called right away. Sad .. but that is the world now days.