Jail Tents

tents_may2007_aerial In 2004, while campaigning for the Office of Sheriff, Jack Parker pledged to find less expensive solutions to address the jail overcrowding crisis in Brevard County. He advised that “tents” could be incorporated as a permanent and integral part of an overall jail construction plan. The more tents that could be erected, the less cost to taxpayers.

Later that same year, the Board of County Commissioners authorized a jail consultant to create a jail overcrowding study for Brevard County. The consultant’s study showed that 500 beds and certain building improvements were immediately needed at a cost of approximately $43 million. It should be noted that the cost was based on 2004 estimates and the actual cost to build the 500 beds would most likely have exceeded $60 million.

Immediately after assuming office, Sheriff Parker proposed a much different and much less expensive plan to the Board of County Commissioners to consider. The Sheriff’s plan incorporated the use of four 100-bed tents and a separate housing unit with an additional 288 beds attached to the existing main jail designed for inmates with mental health and medical issues. His proposal also included a new laundry facility, a new infirmary and an upgraded kitchen and booking rooms. Once County staff priced out the Sheriff’s plan at less than $20 million, the Commissioners quickly approved and funded it knowing it would start to address the jail crisis by adding 688 new beds (188 more beds than proposed by the consultant) and would save approximately 30 million dollars, probably more.

All 4 tents and the laundry facility have been completed and the new medical, mental health housing unit is currently under construction (estimated completion date – March 16, 2008). Sheriff Parker found existing positions within his budget so that he could open tents 2 and 3 without having to ask the Commissioners for more funding. As a result, there are 300 inmates in the tents 1, 2 and 3. Tent 4 was built with the future in mind and will most likely open in 2008.

Inmates were also involved in every step in building the tents and as a result saved a lot of money.

Sheriff Parker stated…”I understand that building jails is last on everyone’s list, but there is nothing more important to our quality of life than keeping criminals away from our families. If we have to build jails, and we do…let’s build them as cheaply as we possibly can.”