5h) Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Repurpose of the Sheriff's Office Training Room (Building II, Donovan Room) into a New Courtroom; Development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mendocino County Superior Court for the Use of the Proposed Courtroom for Inmate Judicial Hearings; and Direction to MCSO Staff to Pursue Potential Non-General Fund Alternatives for the New Courtroom
(Sponsor: Sheriff-Coroner)
Instead of focusing on increasing courtrooms, why not focus on reducing crime. We would not need additional courtrooms if citizens were not being arrested and put on trial for minor infractions. Again, supporting citizens instead of arresting them is what will reduce crime. Providing services and funding education and mental health, and ending cash bail, will reduce trails significantly.
What kind of cases are expected to be heard in this courtroom? Having a courtroom closer to where the defendants are is in general a good thing, but how many of these defendants are only in jail because they couldn't afford cash bail? Could we save as much money, or more, by just ending cash bail? If poor defendants were given the same ability to return home pre-trial that wealthy defendants have now, they could just get themselves to court. That would save transportation costs *and* jail costs.
Instead of creating a courtroom for non jury hearings, we should be eliminating criminalization of minor offenses. We could save the county a lot of money, by giving citations or infractions instead of misdemeanors and felonies. These lower level crimes hurt poor communities and communities of color the most.
Instead of focusing on increasing courtrooms, why not focus on reducing crime. We would not need additional courtrooms if citizens were not being arrested and put on trial for minor infractions. Again, supporting citizens instead of arresting them is what will reduce crime. Providing services and funding education and mental health, and ending cash bail, will reduce trails significantly.
What kind of cases are expected to be heard in this courtroom? Having a courtroom closer to where the defendants are is in general a good thing, but how many of these defendants are only in jail because they couldn't afford cash bail? Could we save as much money, or more, by just ending cash bail? If poor defendants were given the same ability to return home pre-trial that wealthy defendants have now, they could just get themselves to court. That would save transportation costs *and* jail costs.
Instead of creating a courtroom for non jury hearings, we should be eliminating criminalization of minor offenses. We could save the county a lot of money, by giving citations or infractions instead of misdemeanors and felonies. These lower level crimes hurt poor communities and communities of color the most.