Empty Jail Cells in Detroit

[kraig]

May 28, 2009


Why are the jail cells empty?

Sheriff, prosecutor say crime isn't dropping but arrests by police are

BY JEFF GERRITT
FREE PRESS EDITORIAL WRITER Empty jail cells are normally something to celebrate, but Wayne County's top law enforcement officials say the hundreds of vacant jail beds are not because of a drop in crime or more reasonable sentencing. Floors of the downtown Detroit jail are empty because police are arresting fewer people accused of those crimes.
Altogether, three county jails that held about 2,500 prisoners a year ago now house 400 fewer inmates.
Sheriff Warren Evans said police are so slow to respond to some calls that the crimes never get reported. Prosecutor Kym Worthy was more blunt:
"We don't tell the truth about crime," she said.
Detroit has lost hundreds of sworn officers in recent years. The Police Department didn't respond to repeated requests for interviews with its top leaders, but it released preliminary statistics showing an overall decline in criminal activity this year, despite a 24% increase in homicides.
East-sider Joyce Betty, 56, isn't buying it.
Last February, a young assailant snatched Betty's purse, which contained $300 in cash, while she pumped gas at a Mack Avenue filling station. Surveillance cameras captured the crime on videotape, but police never responded.
Said Betty: "I have little faith in the Detroit Police Department."
Empty cells point to police breakdown


It's an incredible sight: In a city riddled with crime, entire floors of the Wayne County Jail in downtown Detroit are empty.

The seventh floor of the Baird Detention Facility, normally home to 128 newly arrested prisoners, is vacant. So are the ninth floor and half of the 12th floor. Another 128 beds at the Dickerson Detention Facility in Hamtramck are also closed. That adds up to more than 400 empty beds in Wayne County jails that, up to about a year ago, were filled with roughly 2,500 prisoners.

The main explanation is simple, according to the county's top two law enforcement officials: Detroit police are making fewer arrests, a dereliction so obvious it has led some Detroiters to conclude there's no point in even calling the cops.

"I've talked to dozens, probably hundreds, of people in the community who are telling me they never made a report because the police never came," Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans said Tuesday. "The delay in response time is such that many, many, many crimes don't get reported."

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy agrees, echoing Evan's assertion that decreases in reported crimes are misleading.

"We tell the press that crime is going down," Worthy said. "It's not going down; it's going up, exponentially, and we have many fewer officers on the street. We need to acknowledge the problem."

The Detroit Police Department did not respond to several requests for comment last week. Instead, a department spokeswoman, citing preliminary police statistics, said overall crime in the city so far this year is down 9.1%, excluding a 24% increase in homicides -- a trend that, if true, would partly explain the jail's decreasing census, especially for those awaiting trial.

In 2007, the Wayne County Sheriff's Department recorded 20,423 felony bookings. Last year, there were just 18,261 -- a drop of more than 10% in a single year. So far this year, bookings have continued to drop roughly 10%, said Undersheriff Daniel Pfannes.

But few city residents think a drop in crime is the reason. Ask east-sider Joyce Betty, 56. A young man snatched her purse, with $300 in it, out of her car while she pumped gas at Mack and Gratiot in February. Betty called 911 on her cell. Police never responded. "They made no attempt to contact me," Betty said, even though the gas station has surveillance tapes of the incident. "It's water over the dam, but I have little faith in the Detroit Police Department."

Neither Oakland nor Macomb Counties report comparable declines in their own jail populations. Both counties' cells remain full, despite innovative efforts to manage the population, Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel and Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe say.

Pontiac, however, is experiencing a trend similar to Detroit's: Arrests have declined as the number of sworn officers has dropped from 170 to 65 in the last three years.

The Detroit Police Department deploys about half the number of sworn officers it did in the 1990s, and has lost roughly 1,000 officers over the last five years.

Even serious crimes aren't getting solved. Arrests are made in only 37% of Detroit homicides, compared to more than 60% nationwide. Officers have too little time to investigate, and they work with a community that often does not trust them. Detroit's shuttered police crime lab has raised more troubling questions about homicide investigations.

Another reason arrests are down is the closing -- for good cause -- of many decrepit, pre-arraignment holding cells under a federal consent decree that is mandating reforms. Six years ago, police held 350 in such lockups, compared to about 130 today. Shift supervisors, and probably officers, know when the lockups are full.

Evans said he offered to lease county jail cells for police lockups five years ago. Negotiations continue, but a deal should have been struck long before this.


Privately, some law enforcement officials also say Detroit police are frustrated by the added paperwork required for arrests under the federal consent decree. But that's no excuse for failing to perform. The consent decree, signed in 2003, might be a headache, but it's one the department earned by abusing the citizens it was supposed to protect, including mistreatment of prisoners in lockups and dragnet arrests of homicide witnesses. The department also had the highest rate of fatal shootings by officers among America's big cities.

Fundamental breakdowns in other basic services also decrease public safety. Copper thieves have made land-line phone service in parts of the city, especially on the east side, unreliable and sporadic. It's not unusual for phone lines to be dead when crime victims try to call 911.

No one is questioning the integrity or competence of underpaid Detroit police officers. They work hard and, in many cases, risk their lives daily. But the department continues to do 1970s-style policing, reacting to crime rather than using data-driven policing efforts. The Michigan Department of Corrections and other criminal justice agencies have information that would enable the department to focus its resources on people most likely to commit crimes.

"In dealing with crime, particularly violent crime, a data-driven surgical approach is the direction we need to go," said former U.S. Attorney Saul Green, group executive for public safety under new Mayor Dave Bing. "I do believe we have some improvements to make in that area."
Until then, floors of empty Wayne County jail cells -- normally a reason to celebrate -- should comfort no one.

JEFF GERRITT is a Free Press editorial writer. Contact him at gerritt@freepress.com or 313-222-6585.





Business as usual.

[Retroit]

Well that's one way to decrease the crime rate - just stop arresting people. How about we close down 911 so we can decrease the number of reported crimes. Heck, Detroit can be crime free in no time.

[eriedearie]

hummm....could those empty beds be used for Detroit's homeless in the meantime? No strings attached for them - only a place to lie down. Just a thought -

[Retroit]

hummm....could those empty beds be used for Detroit's homeless in the meantime? No strings attached for them - only a place to lie down. Just a thought -

No, silly. You have to be a hardened criminal in order to receive 3 free meals a day, free health care, free legal services, free recreation, free entertainment, free police protection, free housing, free utilities,...

[Locke09]

This is the most serious issue in Detroit for me. If I, and the criminals, don't believe that the police will come when called, then I can't feel safe, even locked up within my own home. And if criminals know there is little follow up to crime, then there is no deterrent for them.This is the single thing that will likely result in my leaving Detroit.

[nouthen]

sounds like a perfect time to take the kids down for a walk

[9mile&seneca]

And best of all, criminals can be assured that whomever they decide to prey upon, will not be armed! It's a borgasmorg!

[rugbyman]

Al- it's really a function of how overstretched everyone is in the department. Just a few examples:

I was working on case a few months ago at Frank Murphy and was talking to a few cops during some down time. A sergeant told me that over the course of the weekend she no more than FOUR squad cars patrolling the Northwestern District because of understaffing. Four. At most. In the beginning of the shortages, cops were excited to be earning the premium paychecks for overtime to cover the slots, but after months of 50, 60. even 70 hour weeks in some cases, people stopped volunteering to work the extra hours.

Another example? I was on a CSC case and that particular night the cops told me their 2 hour response time to the call was because they had two higher priority runs before they could even get to it. Don't tell me the city's crime problem is exacerbated because the cops don't care about taking their jobs seriously- what would you have the cops do in that situation? Leave the murder scene they're on? The shots fired run? Detroit is probably just about the only major city in the country where literally every unit working at a given time in a given precinct can legitimately be too busy with higher priority runs to respond to a rape call.

Is that to say every cop is Joe Friday? Of course not. But the lion's share are decent, hardworking men and women doing they best they can in an unbelievably shitty situation. Put the blame somewhere, just not on the cops.

[Locke09]

Al- it's really a function of how overstretched everyone is in the department. Just a few examples:

I was working on case a few months ago at Frank Murphy and was talking to a few cops during some down time. A sergeant told me that over the course of the weekend she no more than FOUR squad cars patrolling the Northwestern District because of understaffing. Four. At most. In the beginning of the shortages, cops were excited to be earning the premium paychecks for overtime to cover the slots, but after months of 50, 60. even 70 hour weeks in some cases, people stopped volunteering to work the extra hours.

Let's look at just the Northwestern District that you reference here. It has 370 budgeted positions. 313 of those are classified as "police officers". The others are supervisory and other support positions.

4 squad cars is 8 people. 3 shifts makes 24 people per day. The numbers are not adding up. There must be high absenteeism, or a huge number of vacancies or something going on. Even if 50% of your people were out sick or on vacation, that still leaves about 156 people for patrol. I know some cops have to be in court on any given day, but this does not add up for me. Are there not enough vehicles? What accounts for the huge discrepancy?

There need to be serious efforts to have as many desk jobs as possible performed by civilians, so that officers doing desk jobs can be returned to the streets. But the police union regularly fights that. Cops do all sorts of non-policing duties. Every chief gives lip service to this, but has any ever accomplished it?

24 officers available. There's something wrong beyond understaffing.

[DetroitDad]

Let's look at just the Northwestern District that you reference here. It has 370 budgeted positions. 313 of those are classified as "police officers". The others are supervisory and other support positions.

4 squad cars is 8 people. 3 shifts makes 24 people per day. The numbers are not adding up. There must be high absenteeism, or a huge number of vacancies or something going on. Even if 50% of your people were out sick or on vacation, that still leaves about 156 people for patrol. I know some cops have to be in court on any given day, but this does not add up for me. Are there not enough vehicles? What accounts for the huge discrepancy?

There need to be serious efforts to have as many desk jobs as possible performed by civilians, so that officers doing desk jobs can be returned to the streets. But the police union regularly fights that. Cops do all sorts of non-policing duties. Every chief gives lip service to this, but has any ever accomplished it?

24 officers available. There's something wrong beyond understaffing.

The answer is D; all of the above. From reading various news articles, Detroit Police Department is understaffed, has some sort of contractual squad car problem [[ask Supersport), has low morale, and has a high level of absenteeism. On top of this, you have a community that doesn't trust cops, and much corruption higher up the chain. You're seeing multiple problems adding up to form large problems in many areas of concern in Detroit, from schools to crime, to depopulation, to pollution.

[nouthen]

I used to think that movie Robo Cop was full of crap...but I am starting to believe

[WolverinesA2]

The National Guard helped police the streets of New Orleans for almost 3 years after Katrina hit, long after the flooding was over. They stayed on because crime was out of control and the police force had shrunk considerably.

Certainly you could argue that the financial situation this state and city are in constitute an emergency. Crime is out of control. The police are ineffective almost to the point of being useless. Maybe Granholm should consider calling up some Guardsmen to patrol Detroit.

[DetroitDad]

Wow!

How.... why.... who....

Just wow.

[defendbrooklyn]

As long as people don't get hurt or displaced we could use another "67"... It would be a community service to tear down some structures and start over.

[SWMAP]

I am amused that so many women police officers have the desk jobs and clerk jobs now. Why is that? Those desk jobs were the DPOA's objective for officers who couldn't do full duty such as those who were injured. But now they appear to be held mostly by women - as if maybe the women are more injured than the males. Go over to your District and look. And notice that they always have food in their mouths or they are endlessly taking orders for carry-outs. They make you cool your heels!

Appears that many women police officers have no intention of working the streets.

[exdetroiter]

The problem isn't just Detroit. I've been going to New York for the last 13 years to shop. There has been only one occassion that I didn't see a crime being committed in the middle of the day, on public busy streets. All though there are terrible crimes occurring al thru Michigan. Think about the two boys in Westland whom lured the man to their garage and killed him [[One of which is appealing his case now). I could enter a whole page of suburban crimes, it may not be as many as in the City, but there certainly a tad bit more horrific.

[Crumbled_pavement]

The problem isn't just Detroit. I've been going to New York for the last 13 years to shop. There has been only one occassion that I didn't see a crime being committed in the middle of the day, on public busy streets. All though there are terrible crimes occurring al thru Michigan. Think about the two boys in Westland whom lured the man to their garage and killed him [[One of which is appealing his case now). I could enter a whole page of suburban crimes, it may not be as many as in the City, but there certainly a tad bit more horrific.

Bullshit. I've never been a victim of a crime in the suburbs. There are so many wonderful families headed by intelligent, hard working people. I often go to the mall and leave the keys in my car and windows rolled down with valuables in full view and have NEVER EVER had a single thing touched. Sometimes I even leave the car running if I'm just going to run in and run out. Now in the city? I wouldn't travel to Detroit without full armor plating on my vehicle, a shock alarm system to electricute wanna be thieves, and a 9mm on my person.

[ejames01]

Your post is just as false. I live in Dearbon, but I have worked in Southwest Detroit for 15 years and no crimes have been committed against me. It sounds like you are just a weak person. You are also a fool if you leave your keys in the car at the mall.

Bullshit. I've never been a victim of a crime in the suburbs. There are so many wonderful families headed by intelligent, hard working people. I often go to the mall and leave the keys in my car and windows rolled down with valuables in full view and have NEVER EVER had a single thing touched. Sometimes I even leave the car running if I'm just going to run in and run out. Now in the city? I wouldn't travel to Detroit without full armor plating on my vehicle, a shock alarm system to electricute wanna be thieves, and a 9mm on my person.

[DetroitDad]

Bullshit. I've never been a victim of a crime in the suburbs. There are so many wonderful families headed by intelligent, hard working people. I often go to the mall and leave the keys in my car and windows rolled down with valuables in full view and have NEVER EVER had a single thing touched. Sometimes I even leave the car running if I'm just going to run in and run out. Now in the city? I wouldn't travel to Detroit without full armor plating on my vehicle, a shock alarm system to electricute wanna be thieves, and a 9mm on my person.

This can't be true! I call B.S.! What mall is this? Do lots of people leave keys and valuables with their windows down at this mall?

[Detroit Stylin]

Bullshit. I've never been a victim of a crime in the suburbs. There are so many wonderful families headed by intelligent, hard working people. I often go to the mall and leave the keys in my car and windows rolled down with valuables in full view and have NEVER EVER had a single thing touched. Sometimes I even leave the car running if I'm just going to run in and run out. Now in the city? I wouldn't travel to Detroit without full armor plating on my vehicle, a shock alarm system to electricute wanna be thieves, and a 9mm on my person.

lol I think CP is being sarcastic.....lmbao....

[crawford]

The problem isn't just Detroit. I've been going to New York for the last 13 years to shop. There has been only one occassion that I didn't see a crime being committed in the middle of the day, on public busy streets. All though there are terrible crimes occurring al thru Michigan. Think about the two boys in Westland whom lured the man to their garage and killed him [[One of which is appealing his case now). I could enter a whole page of suburban crimes, it may not be as many as in the City, but there certainly a tad bit more horrific.

I call B.S.

I have lived in NYC for seven years, walk the streets every day, and have NEVER seen a crime committed. You saw crimes committed in 12 out of 13 trips??? WTF? Are you including littering perhaps, or drivers forgetting their seat belts?

NYC has lower crime than the nation as a whole, so if you are seeing crime in 12 out of 13 trips, I can't imagine what you see in Detroit. Hundreds of crimes being committed simultaneously?

[Locke09]

I am amused that so many women police officers have the desk jobs and clerk jobs now. Why is that? Those desk jobs were the DPOA's objective for officers who couldn't do full duty such as those who were injured. But now they appear to be held mostly by women - as if maybe the women are more injured than the males. Go over to your District and look. And notice that they always have food in their mouths or they are endlessly taking orders for carry-outs. They make you cool your heels!

Appears that many women police officers have no intention of working the streets.

There are lots of males in the police department who have no intention of working on the streets as well. And they are not injured. Whenever an administration tries to make their jobs civilian and put them back on the streets, the union blocks it.They might not be at the precincts, although I see some of them there as well, but they are elsewhere in the department in support divisions. How else can you have the Northwestern District, with 313 officers, claiming that on some weekends they can only put 4 scout cars on the street. I get more irritated everytime I think about it.

You might also recall that because of the union, pregnant officers must be placed on unpaid leave now. They cannot get desk jobs just because they are pregnant. It is not considered an "injury", not a work-related one anyway. So there can't be preferential treatment given to the females. I'm sure the union would block that. That happened under Bully-Cummings.