Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight says a new jail will not solve jail overcrowding

**Media** · 06-26-2019, 03:43 PM

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Sarasota County Sheriff Knight is a former FHP major:

Originally Posted by Jonah Hinebaugh

The Sarasota County Jail has been overcrowded for 10 years. It is a mix of old and new — outdated layouts, chipping paint and rust in the wings built in 1975 and 1987. Maintenance issues, such as excess buildup in aging pipes (no toilets or sinks), renders entire pods useless — sometimes for months — which poses problems every time the inmate population rises.

There have been conversations surrounding the idea of building a new jail to match Sarasota County’s exploding population, but Tom Knight said, “As long as I’m sheriff, I’ll never support a [new] jail [to handle inmate overcrowding] because it’s a tool of the past.”

To reduce jail overcrowding, Knight said judges need to set reasonable bonds and resolve cases quickly, which will reduce the inmate population.

Knight said, “Is there an opportunity for the jail population to go over [the legal] capacity again, and to have over 1,100 inmates? Absolutely.” However, Knight said that if the jail does get overcrowded again, then mattresses can be laid on the floor for inmates to sleep on, which is what he did last year to solve jail overcrowding.

Full story:
https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/2...-is-not-needed

**Media** · 06-26-2019, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Michael Moore Jr.

Sheriff Tom Knight said, “We don’t go out and mass arrest anymore.”

Still, the jail has exceeded its inmate limit since 2008.

What can be done about an aging and overcrowded jail? The jail has shifted to rehabilitation.

In 2008, a 250-bed mental health facility was priced at $18 million. It was never built.
In 2018, a modern jail [that meet's all of the county's needs] is $130 million.

Knight said, “Before I leave office, my failure will be the jail...”

Full story:
https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/2...g-to-panelists[/QUOTE]

Unregistered · 07-17-2019, 03:08 AM

Jail overcrowding is partly the result of many LEOs making unnecessary arrests that could be handled differently. Even when the arrest is legit, a lot of other options were there instead of a on scene arrest.

In my troop, rookies take everybody to jail for any little thing they can. It’s like a power trip. Petty stuff like one FR suspension, shake on the floor, never had a DL, went to hospital before reporting a crash, etc.

The mandatory “must charge” requirement in the policy for anything criminal should be looked at.

Unregistered · 07-17-2019, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Jail overcrowding is partly the result of many LEOs making unnecessary arrests that could be handled differently. Even when the arrest is legit, a lot of other options were there instead of a on scene arrest.

In my troop, rookies take everybody to jail for any little thing they can. It’s like a power trip. Petty stuff like one FR suspension, shake on the floor, never had a DL, went to hospital before reporting a crash, etc.

The mandatory “must charge” requirement in the policy for anything criminal should be looked at.

In the 80's, Dade county would only take misdemeanors that were DUI because they had to. No other misdemeanors got through the door!