Washblog

There is a growing concern among Seattleites as to whether in this time of economic crisis building another jail is truly the fiscally responsible option to curb misdemeanor crimes. For many, at the center of the jail issue is not the question of whether public safety is a top priority for the city, but the recognition that building a jail is more closely associated with increasing incarceration rates than decreasing crime. In fact, this week King County announced that its innovative alternatives have lowered the number of people needing to be placed behind bars.

One of the main topics of the Summit was homelessness and its connections to America's jails. For example, in Seattle the recent sweeps have punished homeless people for trying to survive. Perfect examples of this are the Nickelodeons (citizens of Nickelsville) who were arrested for trespassing, locked up, released, and in the end unable to move to an indoor shelter because there was no bed space. Is it any wonder that many of them found another place outside--demonstrating that the primary effect of the city's tough stance on people sleeping outside ultimately led to wasting taxpayer's money, the police department's time, and homeless camper's sleeping bags, family photos and other essential belongings.

This leads us to the One Night Count. Its easier to see with the latest economic crisis how friends and family living right up the street can find themselves sleeping out on the streets. As an example, a friend who volunteered to count at Gas Works Park discovered around 35 people, many of whom were sleeping in their cars. Among these people were families, working adults, and individuals suffering from mental illness. These are not the dirty, drug-using criminals we are told the sweeps are protecting us from, but some of the most vulnerable citizens of Seattle.

So is it possible that a government infusing a little compassion could potentially help both of these issues? I believe so, and its one of the main inspirations behind my run for Seattle City Council in 2009. If we take the time to address the root issues that underlie small crime and focus less on locking people up, we might reduce the rate of recidivism. We could find that we do not need a new municipal jail--or at the very least a smaller jail with a smaller economic and environmental impact--and we might just starting seeing those One Night Count numbers begin to drop.