The Caddo Commission’s Public Safety Funding Committee meets on Monday at 1:00 pm in the limited access small back conference room behind the chambers at Government Plaza in a public meeting.
A key agenda item is discussion of “Caddo Sheriff’s Office proposal regarding proposed strategies for reducing costs and improving safety at Caddo Correctional Facility.”
Sheriff Whitehorn is requesting this committee forward to the full Commission a resolution to establish a Home Incarceration and Electronic Monitoring Program.
The draft attached to the amended committee agenda sets forth the following:
a. The proposal will be a community-based supervision alternative for misdemeanor non-violent offenders
b. The program will provide strict supervision and electronic monitoring of participants place under its control by Caddo Parish courts
c. The program will lower detention costs, reduce jail overcrowding and promote rehabilitation
The resolution is to authorize the execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Parish and the Sheriff.
Questions that should be asked by the Public Safety Funding Committee include the following:
1. Who will be the monitoring agency for these offenders
2. Who will buy the monitoring equipment both for the offenders and the monitoring equipment, and if it is to be the Parish, what are the estimated costs
3. What will be the requirements to qualify for this program and who will set the same
4. What will be parameters in the actions of these monitored offenders—can they go to work, to school, to church etc.
5. What will prevent program participants from committing crime(s) in the places they can visit while being monitored—or while in their home incarceration
6. What and who will determine in the home incarceration parameters are violated and what will be the consequences
7. What will be the term of the proposed agreement with the Parish
8. What public reporting requirements, and by whom, will be required for the proposed program.
This committee topic will likely draw large attendance in the small, cramped back room.
Members of the public who brave the ordeal of passage to this room should be given preference in seating versus paid public employees in attendance.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.