Monday, March 29, 2010

“Eagle County jail is a facility with a philosophy (The Vail Trail)” plus 2 more

“Eagle County jail is a facility with a philosophy (The Vail Trail)” plus 2 more

Eagle County jail is a facility with a philosophy (The Vail Trail)

Posted: 28 Mar 2010 06:12 AM PDT

County jails serve a transient clientele, holding prisoners for a short time until either the penalty for minor crimes is paid or the court system sends those convicted of major offenses into the state prison system.

Kaufman stresses that it is not the law officers' job to delve out justice. Courts handle that task.

"Once the arresting officer comes through the door with a prisoner, they are ours. We need them to behave, get through the booking process and live with us," he says.

When prisoners first come into the jail, they are classified based on the incident that landed them in the detention facility and on their criminal history. Violent criminals go to the traditional cell section of the jail, and do not have the option of entering the direct supervision pod. Once in the jail, it is the inmate's behavior that determines whether he can live in the relative freedom of the direct supervision facility.

The jail administrator estimates that about 95 percent of the people who end up in the Eagle County jail are not violent by nature.

"Most people come in here high (on drugs) or drunk. If they are in here long enough and sober up, they become somewhat sociable human beings … so why not threat them like one?" Kaufman says.

The rules and expectations for the direct supervision inmates are clearly spelled out and posted on the walls. The prisoners are responsible for cleaning the pod three times a day. They must be respectful of one another, and of the jailer who "lives" with them during his work shift.

They are encouraged to participate in life skills classes and programs such as English language classes and Alcoholics Anonymous. They can also gain some credit by participating in "restorative justice" programs that help criminals understand the true impacts of their crimes.

Good behavior is rewarded, perhaps with a movie played on the big screen television, use of the Wii, a phone call or the opening of the commissary.

There is zero tolerance for violation of the rules. On a recent afternoon, one inmate who had attempted to stare down a detentions officer was immediately remanded back to a jail cell.

Although there are five detentions officers on duty during any shift at the jail, only one stays in the room with the prisoners, talking with them, answering questions and building rapport. That is one of the reasons there are no individual cells with walls and doors.

"If you can't see them, you don't know the culture of the jail. We want to see the officers in the pods, talking to inmates," says Kaufman.

"The idea is to develop a rapport," explains Toby Baldwin the officer on duty in the pod on a recent afternoon. "The inmates see you as a person, not just an authority figure."

That relationship means a safer working situation for the officers and the inmates, and fewer lawsuits, adds Kaufman. There are fewer inmate fights or officer assaults.

"I don't like the other (cell) jail. This is better," said one orange-clad inmate, who had another 10 days of a jail sentence to serve. He had no problem with completing the assigned chores.

Another inmate, who said he had served time in several jails, was moved to the pod after exhibiting good behavior on the cell side of the jail.

"You just keep your nose clean, and do what you're told. I'm serving my time quietly, and peacefully, and getting along," he said, "… you don't get to play Wii on the other side."

The relationships built inside the jail, can create the kind of trust that ends up helping out officers on the road.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Ex-Coast editor Firmin dies at 69 (The Clarion-Ledger)

Posted: 29 Mar 2010 12:28 AM PDT

GULFPORT — Merrit "Pic" Firmin, who gained a wide reputation for gutsy journalism in the Mississippi civil rights era and mentored reporters with a "shed light, not heat" philosophy, has died. He was 69.

Firmin died late Saturday at his Gulfport home after a long fight with cancer, according to the Sun Herald of Biloxi and Gulfport.

Firmin was managing editor of The Delta Democrat Times of Greenville before becoming editor of The Sun and The Daily Herald and then, when the two Mississippi Coast newspapers merged, executive editor of the Sun Herald.

"As an editor, Pic was tough and demanding and led by example," said retired publisher Roland Weeks, who first hired Firmin in 1976 for The Sun. "Pic was always serious, irascible at times, but everyone respected him and all of us loved him."

The Delta Democrat Times, where Firmin was managing editor from 1966 to 1975, is noted in civil rights history as one of the few Mississippi papers that reported intolerance and wrote editorials urging change.

Firmin grew up in Vidalia, La. He served in the Air Force and attended Louisiana State University, Northeastern Louisiana State College and William Carey University.

After retiring, Firmin completed course work for a masters in history at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Visitation was scheduled from 6-8 p.m. today at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home in Gulfport.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, followed by interment in Southern Memorial Park.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Training available for 4-H judging (The Argus Leader)

Posted: 29 Mar 2010 12:03 AM PDT

The South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service will host a two-day training session for 4-H horse judges May 14-15 in Brookings.

The event is open to the public and costs $10 for spectators and $30 for participants who seek certification as horse judges.

The seminar will cover the class categories at the State 4-H Horse Show, the Danish System and the 4-H philosophy. It runs from 7 to 9 p.m. May 14 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 15.

All the training events will take place at the Animal Sciences Arena on the South Dakota State University campus or at the Nathelle and Lawrence DeHaan Equestrian Center in Brookings.

For information or an application, call 688-5412 or e-mail Rebecca.Bott@sdstate.edu.

Payment can be mailed to Lindsey Gerard, SAG 122, Box 2207E, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007. Make checks to "South Dakota 4-H Horse Project."

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