Louisville councilor wants to use tax dollars to pay for bonds for low-level offenders at the prison
A Metro Council member is in action after another inmate died behind bars at Metro Corrections, the latest death amid continuing problems at the troubled prison. His death at Louisville Metro Corrections brings the total to six deaths in the past 90 days, three so far this year. “On average, we have three deaths annually and here it’s just one month in 2022 and we’ve got three deaths,” said District 4 Assemblyman Jecorey Arthur. Starnes is under a restraining order in Bullitt County for not paying child support, Arthur said, about 18 inmates in Metro Corrections have bonds of $500 or less for low-level crimes, such as missing court dates because of traffic fines. Existing inmates Insurance continues: Calls for bail removal are getting louder and louder after the death of a sixth inmate at the Louisville Jail “It really saves you money in taxes if we go ahead and bailing them out with our neighborhood development fund versus keeping them there and spending those taxes Arthur told WLKY. If approved by the board, the money will be distributed to a local bail organization. On social media on Monday, Arthur called for a third-party investigation, along with the current investigation by the LMPD and the FBI. A bill, introduced in Frankfort, would make it illegal for charity groups to post bonds for prisoners. Arthur hopes his decree will be passed before that happens.
A Metro Council member is in action after another inmate died behind bars at Metro Corrections, the latest death as problems continue at the troubled prison.
On Sunday, prison officials confirmed Leslie Starnes took her own life. His death at Louisville Metro Corrections brings the total to six deaths in the past 90 days, three so far this year.
“On average, we have three deaths annually and here we are, just one month in 2022 and we’ve had three deaths,” said District 4 Councilman Jecorey Arthur.
Starnes is under a restraining order in Bullitt County for failing to pay child support. Arthur said about 18 inmates in Metro Corrections have bonds of $500 or less for low-level crimes, such as missing a court date to get a traffic ticket.
He said he plans to use the tax money to help this small group of more than 1,400 current inmates.
Continued coverage: Calls for bail removal grow louder after 6th inmate dies at Louisville Jail
“It really saves you money in taxes if we go ahead and bail them out with a neighborhood development fund versus keeping them there and spending that tax money taking care of them,” Arthur told WLKY. during their detention.
Arthur plans to file an ordinance to approve the use of the district’s neighborhood development funds for this effort. If approved by the board, the money will be distributed to a local bail organization.
“We reserve the right to make some editing changes, I just hope my colleagues have the will to make those changes,” he said.
With six recent deaths in prison, on social media on Monday, Arthur called for a third-party investigation, along with the current investigation by the LMPD and the FBI.
“All I keep coming back to is this prison, this hell hole, which needs to be thoroughly investigated by an outsider,” said Arthur.
A bill, introduced in Frankfort, would make it illegal for charity groups to post bonds for prisoners. Arthur hopes his decree will be passed before that happens.
