More people than ever live in Davidson County.  The 2000 census estimated the county’s population at nearly 570,000.  By 2010, that number is projected to increase another 40,000.  Davidson County has more police officers than ever before with just over 1,300.  These two factors combined have resulted in an increased inmate jail population.  In 2001, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office inmate population averaged 2,941 – an all time high for our city.  If the numbers stay consistent over the next three months, the 2003 average will be even higher.
     Oftentimes, municipalities openly discuss the need for more police protection, but fail to mention the additional burden that creates on a city: more inmates.  As a community, we should be thankful that Davidson County leaders have taken a much needed balanced approach to the growth of both law enforcement personnel and funds necessary to support the correctional responsibilities associated with housing inmates.
     Nearly two decades ago, county leaders learned a valuable lesson as it relates to an increasing inmate population.  In the late 1980’s, the federal courts took over county jails due to unconstitutional conditions caused by overcrowding.  After ten years of federal litigation, court costs, and embarrassment, the county took back its chartered duties.  Therefore, as new police officers and equipment are funded, the city’s leaders have also funded and prepared for a growing inmate population.
     In Davidson County, the sheriff’s primary responsibility is the safety and security of inmates.  All arrest powers reside with the Metropolitan Police Department.  As sheriff, I have a philosophy that the police arrest the person, and we arrest the problem.  Our focus, through inmate programming, is to provide offenders with the tools necessary to become productive citizens upon release.  In addition, we hope offering these programs will, in the long run, reduce jail overcrowding.  Too many times, the terms “program” or “treatment” in correctional facilities are viewed as soft or easy.  Actually, the opposite is true.
     Warehousing inmates, although expensive, is the easy thing to do for both corrections professionals and inmates; however, more inmates equal more jail beds, but you can’t build your way out of jail overcrowding.  The entire criminal justice system must realize that overcrowding is a “system” problem and the “system” should be tasked with resolving it.  Additionally, the attitude of “this is how we have always done it” will not work.  Law enforcement leaders, district attorneys, defense attorneys, and the courts must all be prepared to adjust common practices.
     The ideal criminal justice system not only needs interdepartmental cooperation, but it also needs to strike a balance between facility capacity and alternatives to incarceration.  Through these alternatives, offenders are still held responsible for his or her actions; however, accountability is achieved in other ways at a significantly lower cost.  For example, the sheriff’s office started a Offender Re-Entry Center in 1998 that supervises 200 qualified offenders who would traditionally be housed in jail at a cost $55 per day, per inmate – compared to $10.25 for the ORC.  Participants must report several times a week for drug and alcohol treatment, anger management and educational classes, drug testing, and, when necessary, mental health counseling.  In addition, these individuals must provide proof of employment, perform community service, and pay supervision fees.  ORC participants will tell you the program is much more difficult than “doing time,” and many offenders refuse placement because of the strict guidelines associated with program compliance.  As inmate populations increase, the sheriff’s office, in cooperation with others in the criminal justice system, will continue to explore innovative, cost saving alternatives such as this one.
     Over the next several months and beyond, you will hear more about building jail beds, expanding inmate programming, and alternatives to incarceration.  Although additional space is planned and necessary, so is balance.  It boils down to this question:  “Who do you want in jail?”  We can’t build enough facilities to incarcerate every person who breaks the law; therefore, as a community we must educate ourselves on what decisions are made within the criminal justice system, and why.  Only then, will you be well prepared to answer that question.