Recently, there seems to be those who believe I am opposed to solving the
jail problem. That is not the situation. I have been and still believe we
need a new jail and it should contain courtroom space for criminal trials.
That has been communicated to the County Commission. However, there are
those in the community opposed to a new jail having courtrooms for personal
reasons and not the long-term savings to the county or the need for a new
courtroom with better designs for security and technology use.

A misdemeanor facility maintained or operated by the Sheriff's Department
would be of benefit to the county. This facility would house those the
sheriff determines are low-risk and have a short term to serve. This
facility should be opened seven days a week and with the sheriff providing
sufficient manpower to staff the facility.

However, to create a 48-hour facility open only on certain weekends and
staffed by individuals not accountable to the sheriff is not the way to do
business. To require a defendant to pay at least $125 on the front end for
staying at the 48-hour jail is making it a facility for those with money.
That plainly says if you have the money up front, you get better options of
where you can stay and looked at more favorably.

As long as we have a drug problem, we will have a jail problem. The vast
majority of the crimes committed are related to illegal drugs or drug
abuse. My solution is until we get a new jail built, we use another
facility for housing short-term misdemeanors, but treat all inmates
consistently without regard to financial ability to pay.

Whatever the solution is, it should be approved by the County Commission.
Criminal defendants rarely have money and if there was a way to make them
pay on the front end, the solution would be in use nationwide.

Sincerely,
Dale Potter District Attorney General
455 N. Chancery Street
McMinnville