GIBSON COMMISSIONERS MUST MAKE TOUGH CHOICES ON JAIL

The rejection of a plan to solve Gibson County's jail overcrowding problem
by expanding the existing facility raises some interesting questions about
what's next. This is especially true in light of another action taken at
Monday's meeting, in which commissioners voted to approve a resolution
asking the state to provide mandatory jail time for those found guilty of
selling, manufacturing or possessing methamphetamine. The two actions are
contradictory. You can't demand more mandatory jail time but refuse to
address jail overcrowding issues. Clearly, alternatives are needed.

Currently, Gibson County's jail is certified to hold 151 prisoners. But the
jail has been averaging about 200 inmates a day. That has prompted action
from the Tennessee Corrections Institute, which threatened last year to
yank the jail's certification. TCI only backed off after commissioners
passed a resolution promising to fix the problems.

Any way you look at it, Gibson County commissioners are going to have to
spend money. Something must be done about the jail - whether that means
expanding the existing facility or building a new one. But commissioners
can, and should, do more.

Gibson County already is on the right track with its drug court.
Commissioners should next look at expanding treatment options for those
addicted to drugs, including methamphetamine.

Focusing on treatment instead of incarceration makes sense for a host of
reasons. It has been estimated by some that 80 percent of all crimes are
somehow drug-related. So treating the addiction would help ease
overcrowding by reducing the number of inmates.

Focusing on treatment also makes sense because it presents the addict with
an opportunity to change, and to become a productive member of society
again. And it makes sense because in the long run, it would save the county
money.

Commissioners should look at alternative sentencing options in other
instances, too. Giving community service or probation to minor or
first-time offenders makes a lot more sense than locking them up when that
room is so desperately needed for more hardened criminals.

Commissioners can't have it both ways. It's time they stopped straddling
the fence and made the tough choices they were elected to make.