We need to count our blessings that it was not a Renton inmate who was barbarically killed while in the custody of the Yamkima County Jail yesterday. It could have been.
There is no excuse for this kind of violence to be allowed in any jails, period. The press release below is not clear on whether this man was even convicted…it only says he was arrested for domestic violence. But even if one assumed he’s guilty, then this man had a debt to pay but not with his life; and now this inmate’s relatives will grieve for him the rest of their lives. Meanwhile, the rest of us need to ask ourselves how we could EVER expect someone in jail for domestic violence to become reformed in such a violent climate…95% of those incarcerated will be released at some point. It looks like Yakima was training him to get tougher, meaner, and more threatening.
Psychologists know that we can not subject inmates to extreme violence in jail, and then turn them loose in our cities and expect them to behave like model citizens. Furthermore, you can not let the jail system kill someone’s brother, son, or daughter, and not expect to get resentment, lawsuits and other fallout from their law-abiding relatives on the outside.
Our Renton jailers have been concerned about conditions in Yakima for the last couple years, and we have quit sending inmates there. We are currently in a legal battle with Yakima County because they want us to send our inmates back.
I must see REAL REFORM in Yakima before I ever consider voting to put inmates back there.
YAKIMA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
PRESS RELEASE
DEATH OF AN INMATE – August 21, 2007
A 30-year-old white male inmate who reportedly lived in Naches died today at approximately 5:30 a.m. The inmate was arrested on June 21, 2007 by YSO for Domestic Violence/Assault in the first degree. The inmate’s family request that his name be withheld pending notification of the extended family.
The inmate had been hospitalized on August 9th after apparently being assaulted in pod 4G of the Yakima County Jail.
The inmate initially reported that he had slipped and fallen, but follow-up investigation has revealed that 3 to 4 other inmates had assaulted him. The reason for the assault is unclear at this time.
The assault reportedly occurred around 3:30 p.m. on August 9th, but was not reported until approximately 7:30 p.m. when another inmate pushed the emergency button and reported that an inmate had fallen and was in need of medical assistance. Officers and medical staff responded immediately. Medical staff determined that the inmate needed to be taken to the emergency room.
The hospital determined that the inmate suffered significant internal injuries and he was hospitalized.
The inmate was in general population, which has physical walkthroughs of the units performed hourly by Corrections Officers. No one, including the injured inmate reported anything to corrections staff during the four (4) hours between the alleged assault and the reporting by another inmate.
The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office will be conducting an investigation into the entire incident.
Contact Steve Robertson @ 574-1758
community service for non-violent offenders
I’ve often thought non-violent offenders such as drug users, drunk-drivers, shop-lifters, disturbing the peace.. you get the idea, should pay back their wrongs on society through community service. there is plenty of ivy to be pulled from the public tree’s, trials to be cleared, litter to be picked up, police/public cars to be washed, graffiti to be cleaned off, sidewalks to be sweeped ect. Punishing these crimes in ways other than jail time would leave our cells open for the violent or more serious crimes and allow us to keep our criminals safe at home.
Jan Hickling