I am unsure as to the answer to the above problem, but perhaps a good first step might be a “Sheriff Joe Arpaio-type” expansion of our city jail.  Perhaps we need to make it clearly known to all criminal types that Middletown is NOT the place where they want to conduct their activities because they will be very, very sorry of the result when they get caught.

Bocephus wrote: Its a joke how easy repeat offenders get off it offers no incintive to not commit crimes....

Bocephus,

Mike_Presta wrote: <font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" ="Msonormal"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>I am unsure as to the answer to the above problem, but perhaps a good first step might be a “Sheriff Joe </span><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-: EN;' lang="EN">Arpaio-type” expansion of our city jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Perhaps we need to make it clearly known to all criminal types that Middletown is NOT the place where they want to conduct their activities because they will be very, very sorry of the result when they get caught.</span><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

That's right Mike. Stick the little problem kids (male-female alike) out under a tent in a fenced-in area of town in this 100 degree weather with one bottle of water to last all day to do their time. Give 'em one Porta-Potty to use. Let 'em learn rationing. No more jail with air conditioning for their pampered carcass. Make them serve every day, hour and minute of the sentence handed down by the judge. Let 'em sweat a little and feel some discomfort. Take 'em out in the heat to pick up trash around the city., and if they complain, tack on an extra day or two per complaint so that they learn to keep their mouth shut and learn the rules. Make it as unpleasant as you can. Maybe some, not all, as some are too ignorant to learn, won't return. Like the schools, the current method offers no effective deterrent to stop the behavior. It is a joke. JMO

No, you are all wrong.

Recall Judge Wall stated all it took was Cincinnati State coming, and instead of crime, criminals would be pursuing education. There is some truth to that, and perhaps with the money being raised to entice students, and jail time, that's a solution. Instead of six months in jail, you have an option of taking two semesters at Cincinnati State.

I disagree about the jail. Middletown should close its court and jail, but that is the only source for feeding the few remaining attorneys in Middletown, and the public funding they get from the county and state. The question is, what is driving crime, the inability to find work in Middletown? Well, throwing them in jail doesn't solve the problem. It perpetuates a circuitous circle of jain in, jail out, jail in...et al.

Putting $$$ in the jail is a bad idea. Use the money (or a portion thereof), to invest in education for those in crime (low offenders) to get an Associates Degree and then work. Self esteem and a job solves problems, expansion of a jail does nothing.  

acclaro:

"Recall Judge Wall stated all it took was Cincinnati State coming, and instead of crime, criminals would be pursuing education"

I doubt it. A rather naive statement to make by Walls. Criminals don't pursue educational opportunities. Criminals pursue "breaking the law" activities. A result of their background and upbringing. It is what they know. They have never been shown that there are more ways to make money than to steal it. Never shown that an education might improve their lives. No role model to follow toward education....just crime. A dad, older brother, mother, best friend to watch growing up....and follow in their footsteps.

acclaro:

"Putting $$$ in the jail is a bad idea. Use the money (or a portion thereof), to invest in education for those in crime (low offenders) to get an Associates Degree and then work. Self esteem and a job solves problems, expansion of a jail does nothing"

With all due respect acclaro, trying to instill self esteem into a person who chooses to steal copper from a construction site to buy their drugs, instilling self esteem in a person who robs or commits armed robbery in a convenience store or instilling self esteem in a person who uses or sells drugs is a bit of a stretch. Offering them classes at CS? Doubt if they have the mindset to take the offer. Not the type to sit in a class and learn the subject matter taught, coming from the background that has lead them to the criminal element in society. Three ways to go to deal with them. The current "no-deterrent" method where they laugh at the system, only to repeat offenses. Do as you suggest and offer them a shot at a better life through education, which most, I believe would not take advantage of, or do as I suggest.....make life so hard on them when they are convicted, that they wish they never chose the criminal life they did.

acclaro:

"The question is, what is driving crime, the inability to find work in Middletown?"

I would imagine a certain percentage of the crime would be here even if the town was booming. I would guess that the city leaders accepting any and all Section 8 candidates has something to do with it. I would also guess that a percentage of crime could be attributed to people from Dayton, Cincinnati and outside the city coming to town and committing crime. According to the Journal and the police, crime is increased by the presence of gangs in Middletown that are now being cleared out. The fact that Middletown has become the SW Ohio ghetto capital and the invited poverty that has become the norm here, contributes also. Finally, your suggestion of a lack of work for the people certainly has a bearing on growing crime as people become more desperate.

All we have to do is put people back to work, eliminate the drawing card for the outside criminal element to come to town and close the door on Section 8, stopping the practice of putting out the welcome mat for low income to make a dent in the crime. Impossible to do with the current mindset of the city leaders. Cleaning council/city building houses and replacing with the right people would start us in the right direction. Also impossible to do with the current mindset of the apathetic citizens.

rngrmed wrote: I work as a search consultant.  If you have a criminal record, good luck finding a job.  Even with a Baccalaureate degree or higher.

Rngermed,

I tend to disagree with acclaro and the Judge on this one.  Maybe they are correct if we're looking long term but not immediately.  For immediate impact I do think a large jail and a reputatiion for maximum sentences would clean up some trashy characters off the street when they do offend and might scare off some others.

Spiderjohn:

Mike this would be a good thing to take firearm courses in self defence.. do alot of target shooting with the ladies so they feel confident in useing a handgun safely, the ccw course i took with real good Instructors.. look at this web page they are in morrow. you can split a 12 hr. class on sundays with them..this  is their web site littlemiamitactical.com  you might want to start out small with a 22 cal then once the ladies get used to the smaller guns then go for the real knock down power you need in self defence,the mid size 40 cal or the mid size 45 cal . IMO GLOCK has the best!!!  

Why citizens comments? This town can't even run a meeting. This was a presentation correct? As stated before Middletowns motto: " Lets do it we'll figure out the cost later". How much have we spent on the research for these lights? They wanted their "Island" so do the research pay for it yourself. Rome is burning. Spider this council is without a doubt a mixed up group. Regardless of how you feel about the ward system ending, the less we have behind that table the better. Thanks Picard for bringing us all back to our senses for how bright our future is. Downtown I guess is the end of the rainbow? Bravo to Mrs. Dillman for standing up and forcing the issue about the crime problem in this town. Shame on this City Manager for not attending these meetings even when we have AG folks down from the state. Truth hurts what piss poor leadership. On another note lets remember those without power today, going to be a hot one again.

One video deserves another.

I've been reading John Gatto for many years and agree with his assessment of American schooling. Really more of a podcast than video but if you can endure his delivery, you'll be in for a rude awakening.

"Death by Pedagogy: A Teacher's Polemic Against Institutional Learning"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4fKbbv_b9o&

randy: "Both jails are at capacity as of today. That means to lock someone up right now someone has to be let out. So who do you let out?"

You don't let anyone out. You find a contained area with high fences. Construct some open air tents and set a couple of Porta-Pots out there and let them enjoy the outdoors, be it heat or cold. Of course, then, you'll have to contend with the bleeding heart/kinder-gentler/prisoners have rights ACLU who are part of the problem with the promotion of relaxing discipline in society. It is a free-for-all now. Dam near do anything you want nowadays and receive a painful "slap on the wrist" from these weak judges. The criminal element isn't intimidated anymore by the police, the judges nor the court system. Every time they are given a lecture, let off with a fine or handed a suspended sentence, it re-enforces their lack of respect for the law. JMO

randy: "Maybe it is time to stop locking them up and start bringing out the cane"

Bingo! But will never happen. (when does the right thing happen anymore in today's society?) Look at how much the politicians (and criminals- same thing) are getting away with now....at all levels. Look at the schools and the lack of any respect for authority given by the kids. ( if we just show little Johnny some kindness, he'll straighten up and fly right....as little Johnny laughs at them (and plays them like a cheap violin) Look at the defiant looks on the faces of the criminals....it has become a game to them and the game had it's fear factor taken from it years ago as we became more kind and gentle, thinking we could rehabilitate most of them. It is a joke to pretend that these people will change for the better if we are nice to them. They just laugh and play the system to the hilt with appeal after appeal, release and repeat offense after release......Just wondering what is going through a cops mind when they arrest someone for the 15th time, just to see them back out on the street again in 24 hours. The rules in society have gone down the toilet because we actually pay attention to the ACLU and the other "be kind-criminals have rights" crap. Why? JMO again.