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Opinion editorials Handling of Pit Appeal Calls for a Time-Out |
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opinion editorialsThis editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
County Brass Move on Jail Oversight
The Bernalillo County Commission has done the right thing in sketching out a road map for evaluating operations at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
“Sketch” might be the operative word — in that asking for names of experts by August and not determining whether there will be a request for proposals before hiring someone is a little sketchy. But doing something in the aftermath of myriad allegations of attacks made possible by guard complicity is imperative.
Back during the commission's June 9 meeting, Commissioner Michael Brasher asked for “a full, fair and complete internal affairs investigation” into an alleged sexual relationship in which a guard became an inmate's baby mama. Complete investigations into other alleged guard-facilitated problems — ones more brutal and disturbing — also are warranted.
The county attorney responded to Brasher's request by saying “constitutional rights” put any internal investigation on hold until the criminal investigation is complete. Note to counsel: That doesn't do much to protect the constitutional rights of the other 39,999 inmates who will pass through MDC's doors this year, people who despite their charges should expect treatment that doesn't include being beaten into a coma or raped or slammed to the floor while shackled.
And these are just the attacks in which guards are accused of playing a role.
Commissioners Maggie Hart Stebbins and Art De La Cruz want staff to come up with three to five experts who would be qualified to review the jail. De La Cruz also suggests a jail oversight committee of retired judges or law-enforcement officers. Both ideas would provide review by folks familiar with the corrections system; both warrant serious exploration.
“It's important that we have sunshine on this issue,” De La Cruz says.
It's also important the county connects the dots to ensure the jail is safe for everyone inside.
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