Does Lakewood Need to add a Jail to it's repertoire?

[Ruthie Koenigsmark]

There has been quite a bit of talk about the possibility of a jail being built in Lakewood— what do you think?

Because we all know projections are just that, projections, my concerns are for the best interest of the residents of Lakewood that will have their property values and lifestyles affected by a jail being built in our city. This idea may seem wonderful now(quick fix)..but give it time..it will be twice as bad as anyone could even image. It will completely change our image…isn’t there a stigma attached to housing a jail ? We don’t want or need that do we? My husband, kids and I moved into this community twelve years ago and would not have been interested in purchasing property in Lakewood if a jail was part of the equation, would you?

Truly, this is not meant to put anyone in the hotseat....our elected officials are working hard and trying out all different ideas...I get that and applaude their innovative spirit ..and thank them for the perserverance. this is hard for them, too ..however this is so wrong for our future...I just had to speak up!

[Mike Deneen]

I don't dismiss the idea out of hand.

I may be mistaken, but it's my impression that the current facility is inadequate. I believe the city has had to pay to house prisoners elsewhere. THe new facility could reduce costs.

Also, I suspect the jail would be located on Berea Road, so it wouldn't be in a residential area.

Hopefully someone at City Hall will provide some information.

[Will Brown]

I travel a lot, so I haven't heard all this talk. Are you talking about a city or county jail?

I think a jail could provide some jobs and tax revenue. They don't pollute, and they don't attract a bunch of drunks and drunken drivers, nor are they noisy, so I think I might prefer a jail to more bars or a foundry.

As to stigma, we already have plenty of that living in a crowded declining city on the west side, so I don't think a jail would add much more.

If the proposal is for a county facility, I would think Cleveland would be a better choice, since they have so much land that has been vacated. If the proposal is for a city facility, I think local jailing of non-violent offenders would help their families by making visits easier, which could have some rehabilitative effect.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

I think a jail would be a good thing.

I've talked to many police officers and detectives and they all stress that there are 8 jail cells (I believe) with two being double bunks.

So that's not a lot of room.

Don't quote me directly on the number of cells, but I know it's less than 10 and more than 5.

So adding more cells or building a jail wouldn't be a crazy idea.

[Ed FitzGerald]

We have convened a small task force to explore the creation of a new jail. This idea has been batted around for years, with no resolution.

Lakewood already has a jail. Unfortunately it is so small it doesn't meet state standards. Its size forces us to ship prisoners as far away as Lake County, and we pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year as a result.

Building a new facility on Berea Road, as has been discussed, would not impact any residential neighborhood, nor would it change the image of the city. It might save us millions of dollars in the long run, allowing us to invest in the things we need and value in the community- things which are in a precarious position because of our fiscal situation.

We have alot of homework to do on this issue, and are exploring state funding. But it is a concept worth examining.

[Ruthie Koenigsmark]

Maybe I don't have the full story--could you help me please--Mayor Fitzgerald?

Are we building a jail to house prisioners from our city or a jail large enought to house for our city and neighboring cities as well? How many cells are we talking in this plan??

Oh, and almost forgot ---who is on the task force....

Thanks for the feeback all!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Because we all know projections are just that, projections, my concerns are for the best interest of the residents of Lakewood that will have their property values and lifestyles affected by a jail being built in our city. This idea may seem wonderful now(quick fix)..but give it time..it will be twice as bad as anyone could even image.

While jailing Americans would seem to be the new sport of the 21st Century as we passed one out of every 100 Americans in jail. It is the worst idea I can possibly imagine. When the drunk is released from jail, what does he do. Walk to get his/her car. What does the petty theft do when released? Who visits these people in jail?

Besides it is defensive, not offensive. I still believe you put the same amount into safety services you will never need the jail. Proven fact, bad people hate police! Good people love police!

Hire more, equip them better, and make sure everyone knows it.

Maybe a mini station in every ward.

Maybe more bikes, and motorcycles.

FWIW

[John Guscott]

I completely agree with the Mayor on the jail issue --- - Before working at the library, I was employed by the Cuy Cty Sheriff's Dept., whose "120 Holding" cell would often hold suburban inmate overflow. I thought the overcrowding was bad then (early 90s), but now cuyahoga inmates (Lakewood isn't the only one) are routinely brought out-of-county, at high cost to the cities requiring jail services. Some communities make a LOT of money from providing jail services for more densely urban communities.

Along these lines, I have heard some express desire for a Lakewood Justice Center - a location that would combine police, courts and jail facilities. Is this being discussed seriously, and what are its advantages and disadvantages? Where would such a Justice Center be located? At the edge of town such as Berea Rd., or in the center of town (like Cleveland's on W3rd&Ontario), e.g., the Bunt's Giant Eagle location?

[Bryan Schwegler]

Why not build it in Clifton Park?

While Berea Road is not necessarily residential, let's not forget that it's maybe only one or two blocks from residential neighborhoods. Let's not try to pretend that Berea Rd is some magic place, everything is close to residents in Lakewood, we're not that big.

I'm being a little facetious, and honestly I'm probably in the camp that would agree this needs to be done, but I want to make sure that we don't kid our selves into thinking Berea Rd wouldn't affect any residents, because I'm sure there are quite a few who would disagree with that.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't do it because honestly no matter what we do in Lakewood it will affect some residents. But we just need to accept that some people may not be happy.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Why not build it in Clifton Park?

Well one reason is some talk has filtered out of Clifton Park about the desire to be a gated community. Much of the talk is centered around how much property values would go up in Clifton Park.

Honestly there have been enough ideas floated to make this city profitable and a nice place to live without needing the jail business in Lakewood.

I believe the mantra was Safe and Clean. Not sure how housing and later releasing prisoners into public really work in to either. Should do wonders for Lakewood's Historic Birdtown Arts District. Nothing attracts artists faster than criminals. Nothing stabilizes housing prices faster than a prison.

FWIW


.

[Bill Call]

While jailing Americans would seem to be the new sport of the 21st Century as we passed one out of every 100 Americans in jail. It is the worst idea I can possibly imagine. .

The City already has a jail. It's overcrowded, does not meet current State standards, and costs the City $500,000 a year to maintain. In two years it will cost $1,000,000 a year to maintain. Where will the money come from?

Building a new jail that meets State standards and that can handle the increased case load makes a lot of sense. Spend a day at Lakewood City Court and see what you are up against.

Building the jail a little bigger will allow the City to house prisioners from other Cities at a profit. Would you rather spend a million dollars or earn a million dollars?

Hire more, equip them better, and make sure everyone knows it.

You are assuming that the increased crime in Lakewood is caused by all those people crossing the boarder to steal your horses and burn your barn. The increased crime in Lakewood is not caused by all those out of towners. It's caused by your new neighbor.

Lakewood's crime problem cannot be cured by increasing the number of police officers. If the middle class continues to flee the City all the police in the world (living in Avon Lake) won't make a difference. What's the battle cry going to be? Thirty new jobs for Avon Lake!!!

What will make a difference?

A housing policy.

[Bryan Schwegler]

The City already has a jail. It's overcrowded, does not meet current State standards, and costs the City $500,000 a year to maintain. In two years it will cost $1,000,000 a year to maintain. Where will the money come from?

So why is it going to double in cost in two years? What happens in two years?

[Bryan Schwegler]

Well one reason is some talk has filtered out of Clifton Park about the desire to be a gated community. Much of the talk is centered around how much property values would go up in Clifton Park.

Well heck, if they're putting up a gate, they're already half-way to being a prison. Let's just save on costs and build it there.

[Bill Call]

So why is it going to double in cost in two years? What happens in two years?

The costs to maintain prisioners has increased by about 225% over the last 8 years. Those costs are increasing at an accelerating rate. Also, the current jail does not meet State standards so without major expenditures to improve the current facility the City will be forced to pay another community to house our prisioners.

Would you rather spend a million dollars or make a million dollars?

[Bryan Schwegler]

So why is it going to double in cost in two years? What happens in two years?

The costs to maintain prisioners has increased by about 225% over the last 8 years. Those costs are increasing at an accelerating rate. Also, the current jail does not meet State standards so without major expenditures to improve the current facility the City will be forced to pay another community to house our prisioners.

Would you rather spend a million dollars or make a million dollars?

So just to clear and transparent here, your claim that costs will go from $500,000 to $1 million in two years is simply conjecture? There are no hard facts to say with certainty that is the case correct nor or there any pre-planned increases to double the cost?

Of course in the end it's better to make money. I just want to be sure we're not playing fast and loose with data and throwing out figures as certainty when they're not.

But aren't you also making a very big assumption that our new jail, if built, would bring in $1 million per year by housing other's criminals? Last I saw from Mayor Ed above is they're just starting to talk so I don't know how you know what the logistics will be.