Wednesday, October 13, 1999
Jail expansion — just another shell game?

We're all familiar with the age-old shell game where the scam artist tries to get you to focus on where the nut isn't and keep your focus off of where the nut actually is. The hand can be quicker than the eye!

Newspapers appear to have their own version of the shell game, at least that seems to be the case with recent articles about the proposed jail expansion. First of all, a front page article is published about the fact that the proposed jail expansion “is not” a state prison. They should have spent as much effort to explain what the jail expansion “is” rather than what “it isn't.”

Are you keeping track of where the nut is, or have the distractions got you to focus on where “it isn't.”

It's about time that those local officials that feel the need to get defensive about public comment focus on what is being said, and begin to make appropriate comments about what the jail expansion “is” versus what “it isn't.”

Let's begin now to turn over the shells and see where the nut is.

First of all, the jail expansion is a county jail that is projected to have approximately 800 beds. This facility will house state prisoners that originate from this county as they await a bed in a state prison. Today our small jail is holding approximately 13 percent of state prisoners.

Secondly, there were two lock-downs in Fayetteville's elementary schools in 1998 due to escaped prisoners from the local courthouse. The jail expansion is planned to include an enlarged county courthouse, so it is only reasonable to expect that a larger facility will increase the likelihood of this risk to the surrounding community.

Frankly, I'm getting a bit tired of the shell game. Why don't you begin to deliver information about what the jail expansion “is” rather than what “it isn't.”

Jim D. Fair
Fayetteville


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