Protect inmates’ rights

By Shams Ghoneim

----

According to the Sentencing Project, more than 60 percent of people in U.S. prisons are racial and ethnic minorities. For black males in their 30s, 1 in every 10 is in jail or prison on any given day.

In 2000, black women in state and federal prisons were six times the rate of white women but declined by 53 percent in 2009. Minority males rate declined by about 16.9 percent.

Disproportionate incarceration of minorities in American prisons is a serious matter and must be addressed without delay.

In Iowa City, the Johnson County Justice Center project was rejected by voters in 2012 with another vote slated for May 7.

The revised proposal includes upgrading the 1981 jail with a capacity of 195 beds, providing jail alternatives, offices for legal personnel and judges and revamping the century old courthouse.

One critical safety issue is the absence of any entrance system or checkpoint protecting against weapons. There is no separation between criminals /suspects from the public. The 32-year-old jail was designed with a capacity of 46 inmates. Recent inmate daily average has exceeded 170 and reached 200. It is out of compliance with state requirements for inmate space and is deficient in safety and design standards.

The main issues behind the proposed Justice Center:

l) The ongoing violation of basic human rights and dignity for all prisoners in the jail because of extreme limitation of space afforded to each resident resulting in:

l Lack of inmate personal safety and of minimal privacy.

l Lack of speedy and adequate consultation with assigned attorneys.

l Lack of available space to visit with family members.

l The need to transport juveniles out of the city/county and away from their families and support systems.

l Lack of security for both inmates and jail staff.

l The inability to conduct diversion programs within the jail, including mental health and/or substance abuse programs, drug courts and electronic monitoring opportunities. Such programs would reduce inmate recidivism.

l Lack of inmates' access to exercise space or educational opportunities.

l Significant backlog of all court hearings and cases leading to an increase in inmate numbers at the jail.

l Inability to conduct rehabilitation programs.

2) The need to remodel the Iowa City 100-plus-year-old courthouse to comply with ADA rules to protect all working there and the public.

3) The high cost - $1.3 million per year - and potential danger of transporting inmates to distant sites.

Despite these dire conditions, opponents are linking the Justice Center plan to the disproportionate incarceration of minorities. This disparity is a disgrace, and must involve major changes in our criminal justice system including serious revision of the war on drugs, which heavily impacts many Americans.

But should the Iowa City community hold hostage the inmates in Johnson County Jail who are assumed innocent until proven guilty, our juveniles, the public, jail staff and the legal community until we address the disproportionate incarceration rates?

These rates resulted from a collective failure to address them on their own merit. Are we now to compound this failure with more human rights abuses and violations by refusing to accept the basic human needs, safety and dignity at our doorsteps? I think not.

Before casting your vote, take a tour of the existing jail and courthouse, talk to an inmate, to a judge, to jail staff.

Meanwhile, we as a community must commit to effectively addressing the heartbreaking rate of incarceration of minorities.

Shams Ghoneim of Iowa City is coordinator, Muslim Public Affairs Council-Iowa Chapter. Comments: shamsghoneim@mchsi.com