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A local sheriff has gained notoriety (locally) for being "tough on crime" by absolutely refusing "good time" to any prisoner apart from a medical emergency.
"Good time" is generally understood to be "2 for 1" - if you have a sentence of 90 days, and you behave yourself in jail, you can accrue "good time", and be eligible for release in 45 days. In Texas, the Sheriff, as custodian of the prisoner, has this authority - in Texas law, it is stated that the Sheriff MAY.... (not that he must, or cannot)
In the case of a jailer who punched a prisoner after being continually threatened with harm to his family (the prisoner was antagonizing the jailer), the jailer punched the prisoner in the head, while the prisoner was strapped in a transport chair. NO DEFENSE on my part of the jailer - there is absolutely no excuse for his conduct. I believe that he (a personal friend of mine), as a public official, should have been (and was) held to a higher standard.
So it's not THAT case that makes me reconsider "good time", but the Sheriff's own testimony. In a hearing this week, the jailer's attorney pointed out that there were three separate cases where prisoners were let out of jail early due to "good time", so the appeal was "equal treatment". The Sheriff was adamant that those releases were not authorized by him, and that jail supervisors (his employees) improperly released the these three other prisoners. (It almost seemed like a scene from "A Few Good Men", where the Colonel demands he's absolutely in charge, and only admits he authorized the 'code red' when badgered into it)
Anyway, I can only assume that the reason the Sheriff maintains this absolute "zero tolerance" on "good time" is because he will have to run for re-election, and wants to look "tough on crime".
I spend a lot of time in County and State Jails as a pastor/chaplain, and it's so clear to me that somebody who gets sent there for the VERY FIRST TIME will have every opportunity under the sun to become a more hardened criminal, join gangs, get involved with illegal activity, etc....
It just seems that "good time" could be a valuable carrot to first time non-violent offenders to mind their P's and Q's, knowing they could get 'mercy' if they behave, and get out early.
Comments?
"Good time" is generally understood to be "2 for 1" - if you have a sentence of 90 days, and you behave yourself in jail, you can accrue "good time", and be eligible for release in 45 days. In Texas, the Sheriff, as custodian of the prisoner, has this authority - in Texas law, it is stated that the Sheriff MAY.... (not that he must, or cannot)
In the case of a jailer who punched a prisoner after being continually threatened with harm to his family (the prisoner was antagonizing the jailer), the jailer punched the prisoner in the head, while the prisoner was strapped in a transport chair. NO DEFENSE on my part of the jailer - there is absolutely no excuse for his conduct. I believe that he (a personal friend of mine), as a public official, should have been (and was) held to a higher standard.
So it's not THAT case that makes me reconsider "good time", but the Sheriff's own testimony. In a hearing this week, the jailer's attorney pointed out that there were three separate cases where prisoners were let out of jail early due to "good time", so the appeal was "equal treatment". The Sheriff was adamant that those releases were not authorized by him, and that jail supervisors (his employees) improperly released the these three other prisoners. (It almost seemed like a scene from "A Few Good Men", where the Colonel demands he's absolutely in charge, and only admits he authorized the 'code red' when badgered into it)
Anyway, I can only assume that the reason the Sheriff maintains this absolute "zero tolerance" on "good time" is because he will have to run for re-election, and wants to look "tough on crime".
I spend a lot of time in County and State Jails as a pastor/chaplain, and it's so clear to me that somebody who gets sent there for the VERY FIRST TIME will have every opportunity under the sun to become a more hardened criminal, join gangs, get involved with illegal activity, etc....
It just seems that "good time" could be a valuable carrot to first time non-violent offenders to mind their P's and Q's, knowing they could get 'mercy' if they behave, and get out early.
Comments?
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