In a detailed social media post from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. explained the limitations of his role in the criminal justice system and expressed his desire to address the community's concerns. Citing the complex interplay of numerous elected officials and systems that control various aspects of the criminal justice process, Bonner highlighted that while he would like to resolve all the problems, systemic checks and balances make this an impossibility. The message, posted on the office's Facebook page, delineated responsibilities including the upkeep of correctional facilities and the provision of medical care, which fall under the purview of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris.
With the jail's population reaching an "unacceptable level," Bonner pointed to a need for collaborative efforts with other stakeholders. Despite having no direct influence over bond settings or legal representation, Bonner has taken proactive steps to alleviate overcrowding, according to the office's social media post. In this vein, Bonner has paid for repairs to increase the capacity at local facilities, engaged with other sheriffs for detainee transfers, and approached law enforcement to favor summons over arrests when non-threatening to public safety.
The office has emphasized the sheriff's strategies that significantly reduced the number of intakes: increasing staff in intake areas and encouraging the use of community mental health resources as alternatives to incarceration for those in crisis. These initiatives aim to move detainees through the system more expeditiously. The social media post also suggests that questions concerning delays in court appearances would be more aptly directed at the attorneys and the judiciary, not at the sheriff's office.
Bonner’s outreach extends to law enforcement agencies, asking them to consider mental health facilities for those in crisis rather than arrests, provided community safety is not compromised. The post references resources like Alliance's Crisis Assessment Center, where law enforcement can take patients rather than to jail. The sheriff's office asserts that while the Sheriff can't directly place patients in these facilities, specialty courts and legal professionals are capable of navigating these options. The community is urged to recognize and support these avenues.
The Sheriff's Constitutional duty, as cited in the post, solely encompasses maintaining custody of people in jail until the courts order their release.
