Apr 5, 2006 9:36 pm US/Central
Board Calls For More Security At Cook County Jail
By Ngozi Ozokwelu
(Medill News Service)
Following a stabbing incident last Sunday at the Cook County Jail, members of the Cook County Board Wednesday called for more security at the institution.
The altercation occurred in Division 11 of the jail, a state-of-the-art maximum security facility opened in 1995 at a cost of $95 million. Two men were seriously injured in an apparent gang-related stabbing in the division's day room. No jail guards were injured as they broke up the fight, according to published reports.
Despite its relatively new status, Commissioner Anthony Peraica said Division 11 is in need of more security measures. "I have been to Division 11," Peraica said. "The cameras don't work." He added if immediate action is not taken to fix these security problems, "more detainees [will be] escaping."
According to Peracia, security needs to be maintained "[with the all] the problems we have had with security at the county jail."
Six inmates escaped from Cook County Jail last month with the alleged help of a Cook County jail guard last month.
In a phone interview earlier this week, Cook County Board President Pro Tem Joseph Mario Moreno said there are approximately 250 jail guards and the implementation of additional security has begun.
"I am [also] floating around a new idea," Moreno said. "I am proposing a GPS service [in the form a bracelet] that will monitor each inmate. It will also track guards." He said he has not proposed to idea to the board yet.
Moreno said he is also in discussion with the Sheriff's Office.
"[There is] a lot of activity by influx of additional guards by the Department of Corrections and [we are] looking at technology to help assist in these implementations," he said.
"These jail fights will be eliminated," Moreno said. "Everyone will know where everyone else is at all times."
During Wednesday's board meeting, commissioners also discussed potential problems with the budget.
Some commissioners complained they are not aware of problems with the budget until it is too late.
"I don't want to be stuck," Peraica said, referring to the lack of time commissioners have in responding to budget problems. "Are we going to find out [problems with] the fiscal picture five months after it happens?"
"I was rather disappointed that commissioners didn't even know what the trial balances [were]," Commissioner Earlean Collins said.
Commissioner Gregg Goslin said, "My real concern [with the budget] is revenue."
In response, Commissioner John Daley, chairman of Cook County's Finance Committee, said there will be a monthly revenue report made available by the May 1 county board meeting.
Moreno said Cook County is a home rule county, which allows the passing of certain taxes and fees. There are taxes on cigarettes, motor fuel, entertainment and parking, he said.
He added that revenues are based on estimates from 2005, so it is difficult to predict a cash crunch with the 2006 budget.
Last year, the county generated $90 million dollars in revenue, but estimates were for a smaller figure, Moreno said.
"It is hocus pocus," Moreno said in response to the speculations of problems with the current budget.
(© MMVI, Medill News Service - Northwestern Universtiy. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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