New Jail

Thanks to the excellent series at Cascadia Daily News, we have finally gotten a full picture of the criminal justice situation in Whatcom County. Criminals are roaming the streets because there is no room in the present jail. Some of these criminals have mental health issues and/or substance abuse problems. They are not getting treatment on the street but would in a new jail that has adequate facilities and personnel. All elected executives in Whatcom County support a new jail in the 500-bed range. Rather than quibbling over that number, we need to get behind the ballot measure and end the current nightmare.

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