Thread: 'Superjail' proposal criticized in report

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'Superjail' proposal criticized in report

Web Posted: 07/24/2006 10:53 PM CDT
Mariano Castillo
Express-News Border Bureau

LAREDO — Opponents of a proposed "superjail" in South Texas released a report Monday critical of arguments for the 2,800-bed facility the U.S. Marshals Service wants and Webb County is vying for.

The overzealous prosecution of nonviolent undocumented border crossers in South Texas has created the false illusion that more detention space is needed, according to the report by Grassroots Leadership, a nonprofit group based in Charlotte, N.C., and known for its criticism of private prisons.

Another group, South Texans Opposing Private Prisons, which was formed in response to the proposed jail, jointly announced the findings.

The report said the prosecution of immigrant violators rose 82 percent nationally between 2003 and 2004, but in the federal Southern District of Texas, the increase was almost 4,000 percent.

"The South Texas district has a detention rate that is unprecedented," said Nicholas Hudson, the report's author, adding that the groups prefer immediate deportation for nonviolent undocumented immigrants rather than jailing.

The thousands of nonviolent undocumented immigrants in South Texas are detained so they can be charged with illegal entry and have an average 30-day jail stay. That rate is higher than anywhere else in the nation, the report states.

According to the groups, the disproportionate number of prosecutions results in the misperception of the need for more detention.

"It is reasonable to believe that South Texas can match the nation's standard of discretion regarding the use of prosecution and enforcement tactics on nonviolent offenders, thus eliminating misperceived needs for prison space," the report states.

The Marshals Service has received six bids for the jail, which the agency said is needed to accommodate a growing number of federal inmates.

Five of the proposed locations are in Webb County, and one is in neighboring La Salle County.

An environmental impact study prepared for the Marshals Service concluded that the prison would create jobs and not harm property values in the area.

The report contests that claim.

Webb County Judge Louis Bruni, a supporter of the proposed jail, called it "an economic shot in the arm."

Of the Grassroots report, he said, "That's their opinion, and they need to take that up with the Legislature, up with the federal authorities."

"In my opinion, they don't know what they are talking about," Bruni said.


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mcastillo@express-news.net
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Just put them in a fence with tents! Stop the prison building, save the money. This is so simple!!!!!

Dixie