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| As Michigan jail nears capacity, prisoners may get early release |
| By Macomb Daily |
| Published: 10/23/2002 |
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The Community Corrections program is supposed to divert non-violent inmates out of the jail and into jobs, community service, mental health therapy or substance abuse treatment. But the program's new manager was dismissed in August after just four months on the job, when the diversion of inmates dropped off. In part because of those failings, during a 7-day period earlier this month the jail exceeded its 1,438-inmate capacity on four days. That population level was close to triggering an early-release law that requires all non-violent inmates' sentences to be reduced by 5 percent or more. 'It's quite a bit of a concern,' said Macomb Chief Circuit Judge Peter Maceroni. 'I think Community Corrections can be quite a bit of help.' Community Corrections operates on a $1.2 million annual budget. The program can save nearly $2 million a year by sending non-threatening prisoners back into the community rather than relying on expensive incarceration. Some are placed on an ankle tether or required to report routinely for drug testing. The Community Corrections manager, Ken Iskow, was forced to resign earlier this year after his effectiveness was questioned and sexual harassment complaints were lodged against him, said county officials. 'Things are a little messed up right now,' said Circuit Judge Deborah Servitto, chairwoman of the Community Corrections Advisory Board. 'We have some morale problems. It's in a little disarray.' With no one at the helm, Macomb County lost $200,000 in state funding designated for substance abuse treatment of inmates diverted to Community Corrections. In addition, a program that provides a combination of mental health and drug treatment had 119 participants when it began a year ago but currently serves 32. With jail overcrowding at issue, Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel and Jail Administrator Michelle Sanborn in September pushed for a quick appointment of a former longtime colleague, Cal Eschenburg, as the new Community Corrections manager. Eschenburg, a retired, 26-year Sheriff's Department veteran, was appointed by the 12-member Community Corrections board last week and took over Monday. But Eschenburg was hired on a part-time basis, despite concerns raised by county judges, so that he could preserve his county pension. Full-time employees must forego their retirement pay. Eschenburg will receive his $49,498 pension plus $23.04 an hour in pay as manager of the Community Corrections program during the interim period. He was hired on an interim basis to determine if a part-time manager can handle the job and to give the board time to interview applicants interested in the position on a full-time basis. Sanborn said the decision should not be viewed as favoritism or cronyism. Eschenburg, she said, had years of experience in jail operations and can 'hit the ground running' in his new job. 'We aren't creating a job, we've stumbled upon a solution,' Sanborn said. 'I think it can be done part time, if you have the right person.' The last time the county sought the right person it began with 120 applicants yet could find no 'shining stars,' said Sanborn. Iskow emerged from five lackluster finalists and was quickly 'relieved of his responsibilities,' said Hackel. This time around, the board decided not to advertise the interim opening, concentrating instead on two candidates: Eschenburg and Kathleen Schaefer. A retired probation department worker, Schaefer has a gender discrimination lawsuit pending against her former co-workers, including one member of the Community Corrections board. Eschenburg, a near-unanimous choice for the job, draws compliments from all those involved as an affable, experienced former sheriff's department captain. But other large counties rely on full-time managers. And Eschenburg's appointment comes as the program is trying to right itself and prepare for a new circuit court program that will divert many defendants convicted on drug charges into Community Corrections. 'We've always had a full-time person and we're a large county. We (the judges) weren't thrilled. We're a little skeptical,' said Servitto. 'But if it doesn't work out, it's just an interim thing. If it doesn't work out, we'll move on.' |
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