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| Sheriff wants new jail |
| By The Venice Gondolier |
| Published: 06/21/2006 |
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SARSOTA, FL - One of those election year issues that has historically inspired Sarasota County politicians to duck and cover, and neighborhood advocates to cry "Not in my back yard!" is back. Sheriff Bill Balkwill wants new detention facilities because the downtown jail is full. "A study was done about three years ago," said Maj. Daryl Stinger, the sheriff's division commander for corrections and court services. "It concluded our jail would reach maximum occupancy in another five to 10 years. But things have changed." The changes include a tougher state policy on arrests for parole violations and an increase in the number of South County arrests from expanding areas such as North Port. They have filled the downtown jail to capacity and there is no expectation of relief in sight. What Balkwill wants is a new mid-county booking facility for arrests and a new jail for sentenced prisoners, who currently fill about 20 percent of the beds. The wheels have already started to turn, but what remains to be seen is how long it will take for county commission action. "Last week, we had our first preliminary meeting with officials who will be involved in this process," Stinger said. "It focused on new jail construction and a site search. Now it's a matter of more meetings, where to put it and what it will look like." |
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