Why You Need To Support Measure R
An excellent article at Knock.LA describes the pedigree of the ballot measure and why it’s important.
Despite the deep pain and injustice caused in LA county jails every day, Measure R is a tempered and reasonable step in the right direction towards jail reform in LA county. The Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission already exists, but it currently lacks subpoena power to compel witnesses to testify and produce full evidence when investigating misconduct inside the jails. In July of last year alone, five inmates died while in custody, the public deserves clear and unadulterated access to what is going on inside the jails to discover why so many unnecessary deaths are occuring. In addition, Measure R will also require the Civilian Oversight Commission to conduct a Comprehensive Public Safety Reinvestment Plan and Feasibility Study to develop a jail reduction plan within 7 months. Decades of using jails as a catch-all to fight mental illness and substance abuse has obviously been a failure, 90% of the people incarcerated in LA county eventually end up back in jail. A study presenting clear alternatives to incarceration will allow us as Angelenos to begin to imagine better ways to treat our neighbors who are struggling, while also presenting more cost-effective strategies to deal with major public health problems. A recent study by RAND found that 61% of mentally ill inmates currently held in LA county jails would qualify for diversion to community services and supportive housing. With even more evidence, it will be impossible to deny the need for a multi-faceted approach to community health over incarceration.
This is a strong step in the right direction, but it is not a radical attempt to toss everyone out of jail and on to the streets on March 4th. Even the most staunch law and order voters should be able to agree that sheriff accountability and using a diversity of approaches to decrease our jail population and stabilize our communities makes sense. The opportunity to choose real healing and care is available to us if we choose to take it, let’s do the right thing on March 3rd.
Source: Knock.LA