JPs reject jail-expansion idea, seek incarceration alternatives

FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County justices of the peace on Monday dismissed a proposal to expand the county jail, opting instead for a study of alternatives to incarceration.

The Quorum Court’s Jail/ Law Enforcement/Courts Committee voted 4-2 to postpone indefinitely consideration of three proposals related to a $38 million expansion of the Washington County jail. Justices of the Peace Sam Duncan, Judith Yanez, Shawndra Washington and Lance Johnson voted in favor of the motion while Willie Leming and Ann Harbison voted against it.

“The motion is to squash all three,” Duncan said before the vote. “They’re gone forever.”

Sheriff Tim Helder asked the Quorum Court last year to consider a $38 million plan to expand the jail. Under the proposal, voters would be asked to approve the expansion plan and a half-percent sales tax to pay for construction. Voters also would have been asked to approve a quarter-percent sales tax to cover jail operations and maintenance costs. The jail operating budget is supplemented by about $1.4 million from the general fund.

Helder said after the meeting that he wasn’t surprised by the outcome, given the discussion at earlier meetings leading up to the vote Monday. The Quorum Court has delayed putting the jail-expansion proposal to a vote since December, choosing instead to explore alternatives to reduce the jail population. Helder said the arrival of nine new justices of the peace, mostly unfamiliar with the history of the project, made it more likely the process would start over.

Helder said the crowded conditions at the jail are growing worse and that something needs to be done soon. He said that in recent weeks, there have been as many as 100 people at the facility sleeping on the floor or being held in the booking area because of a lack of space in the detention areas.

“I think the handwriting was on the wall,” Helder said. “Considering the mix on the committee, it was probably destined to fail. I like that they’ve continued the debate. But I hate that they killed the ordinance. I think the programs that have been discussed need to work in conjunction with the expansion. I don’t think they will work without our expansion.”

Several members of the public spoke against expanding the jail, arguing the county should try other options, including bail changes and diversion programs for those in need of mental health or substance-abuse treatment.

“These are things we can do right now to get those people off the floor,” Beth Coger of Fayetteville told the justices of the peace.

The justices of the peace who voted to dismiss the expansion proposal said they need more information and want guidance from someone outside the county.

“The study gives us an unbiased look at what’s going on in our system,” Yanez said. “It has to be unbiased.”

Leming said he believes that Helder and his staff have provided the Quorum Court with good information.

“As far as I’m concerned, our sheriff is a professional,” Leming said. “His staff are the professionals.”