New Dallas judge tours jail
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/122906dnmetfoster.54176bbf.html
Foster expresses concern over overcrowding, understaffing
02:03 PM CST on Thursday, December 28, 2006

By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
E-mail dlevinthal@dallasnews.com

For the first time Thursday, Jim Foster saw with his own eyes the hulking criminal justice problems that face him when, on Monday, he transforms from mild-mannered alarm company owner to leader of Dallas County. Hosted by Sheriff Lupe Valdez, the Dallas County judge-elect toured the Lew Sterrett Justice Center’s shabby, crowded environs Thursday.

Sheriff Valdez and several Sheriff Department officials did most of the talking. Mr. Foster asked an occasional question, but for the most part, listened to the seemingly endless list of jailhouse facts, figures - and complaints - his Sheriff Department counterparts reeled off.

Among the items on Sheriff Valdez’s to-do list: Reduce inmate crowding, improve guard staffing and ensure the jail adheres to state regulations, which it has routinely failed to do. At one point, while walking down a narrow cell block-lined hallway as inmates shouted obscenities, Sheriff Valdez put her hand on Mr. Foster’s back and 
whispered, “We’re going to be asking for more people.”

Mr. Foster did express deep concern over the jail overcrowding and understaffing. What he said concerns him the most, however, is substandard medical facilities and the number of inmates exhibiting health problems, be them physical or psychological.

The county, Mr. Foster said, either needs to create an on-site inmate health facility or likewise create a secure inmate-only facility at Parkland Hospital, where today guard-supervised inmate patients are intermingled with non-inmates.

“It’s painfully apparent that we have a lot of ill folks in this jail. We’re got to come up with a means of changing this problem,” Mr. Foster said.

Pressed for specifics, he said “it’s a little premature right now” and explained that county officials are working closely to assess the depth and breadth of problems and determine how to fix them.

“I have in my mind some very specific goals,” he said.

When plans of any sort are fully formulated, they’ll be released to the public, both Mr. Foster and Sheriff Valdez said.

Asked if the county should look to a tax increase to fund new or expanded initiatives, Mr. Foster said he’s “not seeking one” but wouldn’t rule one out. He added he believes the county could address many jail overcrowding and staffing issues through a more efficient adjudication process - the majority of inmates are awaiting court 
proceedings and aren’t serving time on a sentence -- and better communication among county entities.

“You’re going to see these people get to trial quicker,” Mr. Foster said. “If we reduce the population, we will not need the increased staffing.”

After the tour, Sheriff Valdez said she considers Mr. Foster, whom she defeated in a 2005 Democratic runoff election en route to becoming sheriff, a partner.

“I don’t think there’s any question there,” she said. “We have to deal with things together, issue by issue.”

Said Mr. Foster: “We’re working together now. We’ll continue to work together.”

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